From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Airfields of the United States Army Air Force in Australia
Part of World War II
Date 1942–1945 Location Australia Result Allied victory over the Empire of Japan (1945)

During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces established a series of airfields in Australia for the collective defense of the country, as well as for conducting offensive operations against the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy. It was from these airports and airfields in Australia, that Fifth Air Force was able to regroup, re-equip and begin offensive operations against the Empire of Japan after the disasters in the Philippines and Dutch East Indies during 1942.

Overview

Following the Japanese conquest of the Philippines, the remnants of the USAAF Far East Air Force relocated southwest to bases in the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia). After those islands also fell to Japanese forces early in 1942, FEAF headquarters moved to Australia and was reorganized and redesignated Fifth Air Force on February 5, 1942.

Headquarters Fifth Air Force was re-staffed at Brisbane, Australia on September 18, 1942 and placed under the command of Major General George Kenney. United States Army Air Forces units in Australia, including Fifth Air Force, were eventually reinforced and re-organized following their initial defeats in the Philippines and the East Indies.

In addition to the Air Force units, many United States Army forces embarked in Australia, using it as a base of operations prior to their deployment to New Guinea in 1942, and other islands in the Southwest Pacific, driving the Japanese forces north towards their home islands. As the ground forces moved forward, the tactical air units of the AAF moved with them, providing the necessary air support for the ground operations.

Throughout the Pacific War, Australia remained an important base of operations, but with the advance of the Allied Armies, the air bases in Australia were returned to the Royal Australian Air Force once the Allied forces deployed north during 1942 and 1943. Today, most of the airfields in the Northern Territory have returned to their natural state, being abandoned after the war. However most of the airfields in Queensland and the other Australian states and territories still exist as civilian airports or military bases.

Later, during the Cold War, the United States Air Force assigned a small number of personnel to Australia for communications duties and logistical support. Today, USAF units routinely visit Australia for joint exercises with the Australian Defence Force, with a few personnel assigned for military liaison duties.

Major units

The initial USAAF units assigned to Australia in late 1941 and 1942 were ones which withdrew from the Philippines, leaving their ground echelons in Bataan as part of 5th Interceptor Command to fight as infantry units. Later in 1942 and 1943, additional units arrived from the United States as replacement and argumentation to Fifth Air Force for offensive operations. Known units assigned were:

Major aircraft operated

A-20 aircraft of the 6th Bomb Group, 89th Bomb Squadron

Unidentified 1941 serial Douglas A-24-DE Dauntless Dive Bomber, ex 27th Bombardment Group (Light), reassigned to the 8th Squadron of the 3rd Bomb Group, Charters Towers Airfield, Queensland, Australia, 1942.

B-17E attacking Japanese positions on Gizo Island in the Solomons

B-24 Over Salamaua, August 13, 1943. Note smoke from bomb bursts.

Major Richard Bong in his P-38.

P-40E of the 7th Fighter Squadron - 49th Fighter Group - Australia - March 1942

• A-20 Havoc. A-20s first arrived in Australia by way of the air echelon of the 3rd Bombardment Group (Light) and the first operational unit to fly the A-20 in actual battle was the 89th Bombardment Squadron of the 3rd Bombardment Group. Many A-20s were reassigned to the RAAF, being known as Bostons by the RAAF and had varied origins, some being ex-USAAF machines, some being acquired from the Netherlands Marine Luchtvaartdenst, and others being diverted from British contracts. These planes served with just one RAAF squadron, No. 22 Squadron which saw a lot of action in the Dutch East Indies.^[1][2]

• A-24 Dauntless. The first operational A-24 unit was the 27th Bombardment Group (Light). Three of the four squadrons of the 27th BG were equipped with the A-24, plus one squadron of the 3rd Bombardment Group. The remaining squadrons of these groups were equipped with A-20A twin-engined level bombers. The 27th BG was in-transit to the Philippines when the war in the Pacific broke out. The crews were in the Philippines, but their aircraft were on their way via ship from Hawaii. The shipment was diverted to Brisbane, where they arrived on December 22. Some of the 27th BG pilots were evacuated from the Philippines to join their aircraft in Australia. From Brisbane, eleven A-24s flew up to Java in February 1942, but this battle was already lost. The remainder began operations from Port Moresby, New Guinea with the 8th Bombardment Squadron on April 1, 1942. These units suffered heavy losses in the face of the Japanese advance. After five of seven A-24s were lost on their last mission, the A-24s were withdrawn from action as being too slow, too short-ranged, and too poorly armed. However, in all fairness to the A-24, their pilots had not been trained in dive-bombing operations and they often had to operate without adequate fighter escort. Following the New Guinea debacle, the A-24s were withdrawn from combat and the 27th was returned to the United States, where after being re-equipped with A-20s was sent to North Africa as part of Twelfth Air Force.^[3]

• B-17 Flying Fortress. By December 14, 1941, out of the original 35 B-17s assigned to the Philippines on December 8, only 14 remained. They were all stationed at Del Monte Field on Mindanao, hopefully out of range of Japanese aircraft. Beginning on December 17, the surviving B-17s based there began to be evacuated to Batchelor Airfield near Darwin. The first B-17s which arrived in Australia were the shark-tailed C and D models, and the first mission out of Australia took place on December 22, with 9 B-17s taking part. It was an attack on Japanese shipping at Davao. They landed at Del Monte, which was still in American hands. However, the small force of B-17s could do very little to stem the tide of the Japanese advance, launching valiant but futile attacks against the masses of Japanese shipping. The newer large-tailed B-17Es began to join the depleted force of earlier-model B-17s in the Pacific in mid-1942, with the tail gunner of the B-17E being unpleasant surprise for the Japanese, who had become accustomed to attacking the Fortress from the rear. The crews of pre-B-17E Fortresses often adopted the expediency of rigging sticks in the rear of their planes, hoping to convince the Japanese attackers that tail guns were actually fitted to these planes as well. However, by mid-1943, most Fortresses had been withdrawn from the Pacific in favor of the longer-ranged B-24 Liberator. The B-24 was better suited for operations in the Pacific, having a higher speed and a larger bombload at medium altitudes. In addition, the losses of Eighth Air Force in Europe were reaching such magnitudes that the entire B-17 production was urgently needed for replacements and training in that theatre. Shortly after the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, it was decided that no more B-17s would be sent to Australia.^[4]

• B-24 Liberator. Fifteen USAAF LB-30 (B-24A) bombers were deployed in Java in early 1942 to reinforce the B-17-equipped 19th Bombardment Group in a vain attempt to stem the Japanese advance. The Java-based LB-30s would be the first US-flown Liberators to see action and participated in numerous attacks against Japanese targets in the Sulawesi, in Sumatra, and against shipping during the Japanese invasion of Bali. By late February, the position of Allied forces in Java had become untenable, and the surviving LB-30s were evacuated to Australia. The early LB-30s were replaced by the first B-24Ds to reach the Pacific in late 1942. By 1943, the Liberator had almost entirely replaced the B-17 Fortress as the primary long-range heavy bomber in the theatre. The B-24 became the most numerous USAAF heavy bomber based in Australia and New Guinea in the most desperate phase of the Pacific war, and it was the first four-engine heavy bomber to serve with the Royal Australian Air Force home squadrons. It reigned supreme in the Pacific until the arrival of the B-29 Superfortress in mid-1944.^[5]

• B-26 Marauder/B-25 Mitchell. In February 1942, the 22d Bombardment Group was ordered to Australia, being assigned to bases around Townsville. The B-26 first entered combat on April 5, 1942, when the 22nd Group took off from their bases in Queensland, refuelled at Port Moresby, and then attacked Japanese facilities at Rabaul. Each B-26 had a 250-gallon bomb bay and carried a 2000- pound bombload. The Marauder was the only medium bomber available in the Pacific, and generally, no fighter escort was available leaving the Marauders were on their own if they encountered enemy fighters. There were two groups equipped with B-26s, the 22nd and 38th, with two squadrons of the 38th Bombardment Group (69th and 70th) equipped with B-26s. In this series of attacks on Japanese-held facilities in the Dutch East Indies, the B-26s gained a reputation for speed and ruggedness against strong opposition from Japanese Zero fighters. Attacks on Rabaul ended on May 24, after 80 sorties had flown. A series of unescorted raids were made on Japanese installations in the Lae area. These raids were vigorously opposed by Zero fighters. In the 84 sorties flown against Lae between April 24 and July 4, 1942, three Marauders were lost. As the Allies pushed northward in the South Pacific, temporary airfields had to be cut out of the jungle and these runways were generally fairly short. The North American B-25 Mitchell had a shorter takeoff run than the B-26, and it began to take over the medium bomber duties. Although it was admitted that the B-26 could take greater punishment, was defensively superior, and could fly faster with a heavier bomb load, the B-25 had better short-field characteristics, good sortie rate, and minimal maintenance requirements. In addition, the B-25 was considerably easier to manufacture and had suffered from fewer developmental problems. At this time, there were more B-25s available for South Pacific duty because it had been decided to send the B-26 Marauder to the Mediterranean theatre. Consequently, it was decided to adopt the B-25 as the standard medium bomber for the entire Pacific theatre, and to use the B-26 exclusively to Twelfth Air Force in the Mediterranean with some later being used by Ninth Air Force in the European theatres.^[6]

• P-38 Lightning. The first P-38s to reach Australia during 1942 were P-38Fs assigned to the 39th Fighter Squadron of the 35th Fighter Group. This unit traded in its Bell P-39 Airacobras for the Lightnings at RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland before returning to combat operations at Port Moresby in New Guinea. Its first success took place on December 27, 1942 when its pilots claimed eleven kills for the loss of only one P-38F. Two of these kills were claimed by Richard I. Bong, who was to go on to claim a total of 40 kills, all of them while flying the Lightning. The Lightning was ideally suited for the Pacific theatre. It possessed a performance markedly superior to that of its Japanese opponents. It possessed a range significantly better than that of the P-39s, P-40s and P-47s available in 1942 in the Southwest Pacific, and its twin engines offered an additional safety factory when operating over long stretches of water and jungle. However, the limited number of Lightnings available during late 1942 and early 1943 had to be used to make up attrition in the 39th Fighter Squadron and to equip only a single squadron in each of the 8th and 49th Fighter Groups.^[7]

• P-39 Airacobra. At the time of Pearl Harbor, the P-39 (along with the P-40 and a few P-38s) was virtually the only modern fighter available to the USAAF. Those P-39s already in service with the USAAF at the time of Pearl Harbor were deployed at home bases, but were quickly moved forward to overseas bases in the Pacific to try and stem the Japanese advance. They carried much of the load in the initial Allied efforts in 1942. However, many Allied pilots lacked adequate training, and equipment and maintenance of the planes were below average. The Airacobras operating from Australia were sometimes called upon to serve as interceptors, a role for which they were totally unsuited. They proved to be no match for the Japanese Zero in air-to-air combat and were withdrawn from combat by the end of 1942.^[8]

• Curtiss P-40. During 1941, a substantial number of P-40Bs and Cs were shipped to USAAF bases overseas, including the 20th Pursuit Squadron of the 24th Pursuit Group at Clark Field in the Philippines. Almost all were destroyed in the Battle of the Philippines (1941–42), and only a few reached Australia, although the RAAF operated a large number of P-40E-1 export models (Kittyhawk IA) and P-40Ks (Kittyhawk III) from the United States.^[9]

• P-47 Thunderbolt. The first P-47Ds to arrive in the Pacific theatre entered service with the 348th Fighter Group in June 1943. They were initially operated out of Queensland and were used on long-range missions to strike at Japanese targets in New Guinea. The 348th was followed by the 35th Group and at the beginning of 1944 by the 58th Group as well as the 35th Squadron of the 8th Group and the 9th FS of the 49th Group. However the Thunderbolt was used primarily by Seventh and Thirteenth Air Forces in the Central Pacific, with the long-range P-47N arriving in June 1944.^[10]

Airfields and unit assignments

In cooperation with the Royal Australian Air Force, (RAAF), Fifth Air Force was able to use many existing Australian airports and airfields to carry on the war effort. In 1942, additional new military airfields were constructed by Australian and United States engineering units to accommodate the increasing number of USAAF groups and personnel being deployed. The Air Force groups and squadrons moved frequently from airfield to airfield, and often group headquarters was located away from the operational squadrons, as the squadrons were dispersed over several airfields for defensive purposes.

Known airfields of Fifth Air Force units and squadron assignments are as follows:

Note: Airfield locations shown on map above

• Queensland

Charleville Airfield, Charleville(21)

26°24′48″S 146°15′45″E / 26.41333°S 146.2625°E / -26.41333; 146.2625 (Queensland - Charleville Airfield)

63d Bombardment Squadron (43d Bombardment Group), (June 15 – August 3, 1942)

Cloncurry Airfield, Cloncurry(22)

20°40′00″S 140°30′28″E / 20.6666667°S 140.50778°E / -20.6666667; 140.50778 (Queensland - Cloncurry Airfield)

28th Bombardment Squadron (19th Bombardment Group), (March 28 – May 5, 1942)

Detachment operated from: Perth Airport, Perth, Western Australia, (March 28 – May 18, 1942)

30th Bombardment Squadron (19th Bombardment Group), (March 24 – May 13, 1942) (Air echelon only. Ground echelon fighting as infantry as part of 5th Interceptor Command, Bataan, Luzon, Philippines)

93d Bombardment Squadron (19th Bombardment Group), (March 29 – May 18, 1942) (Air echelon only. Ground echelon fighting as infantry as part of 5th Interceptor Command, Bataan, Luzon, Philippines)

Longreach (Torrens Creek) Airfield, Longreach(8)

23°26′03″S 144°16′49″E / 23.43417°S 144.28028°E / -23.43417; 144.28028 (Queensland - Longreach (Torrens Creek) Airfield)

19th Bombardment Group, (May 18 – July 24, 1942)

28th Bombardment Squadron, (May 5 – July 24, 1942)

30th Bombardment Squadron (19th Bombardment Group), (May 5 – July 24, 1942)

93d Bombardment Squadron, (May 18 – October 25, 1942)

43d Bombardment Group, (August 1 – September 14, 1942)

63d Bombardment Squadron, (August 3–20, 1942)

65th Bombardment Squadron, (August 15 – October 13, 1942)

403d Bombardment Squadron, (August 27 – October 17, 1942)

Historical Notes

• The 2nd Combat Cargo Group operated from Biak in the Dutch East Indies from May 1942 – May 1944 to fly passengers and cargo to US bases in Australia, the Admiralties and the Philippines.

• Six of the 7th Bombardment Group 's B-17 Flying Fortresses left Hamilton Field, California on December 6, 1941, reaching Hickam Field, Hawaii during the Japanese attack but were able to land safely. Later in December the remainder of the air echelon flew B-17's from the United Staates to Java, with the unit establishing its headquarters in Australia. From January 14 to March 4, 1942, during the Japanese drive through the Philippines and Netherlands East Indies, the group operated from Java, being awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its action against enemy aircraft, ground installations, warships, and transports.

• On December 7, 1941 (December 8 in the Philippines), when the Japanese first attacked Clark Field, the 19th Bombardment Group suffered numerous casualties and lost many planes. Late in December the air echelon moved to Australia to transport medical and other supplies to the Philippine Islands and evacuate personnel from that area. The men in Australia moved to Java at the end of 1941 and, flying B-17 Flying Fortress, LB-30, and B-24 Liberator aircraft, earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for the group by attacking enemy aircraft, ground installations, warships, and transports during the Japanese drive through the Philippines and Netherlands Indies early in 1942. The men returned to Australia from Java early in March 1942, and later that month the group evacuated Gen Douglas MacArthur, his family, and key members of his staff from the Philippines to Australia. After a brief rest the group resumed combat operations, participating in the Battle of the Coral Sea and raiding Japanese transportation, communications, and ground forces during the enemy's invasion of Papua New Guinea. From August 7 to 12, 1942 the i9th bombed airdromes, ground installations, and shipping near Rabaul, New Britain, being awarded another DUC for these missions. Capt. Harl Pease, Jr. was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during August 6–7, 1942: when one engine of his bomber failed during a mission over New Britain, Capt Pease returned to Australia to obtain another plane; unable to find one fit for combat, he selected the most serviceable plane at the base and rejoined his squadron for an attack on a Japanese airdrome near Rabaul. By skillful flying he maintained his position in the formation and withstood enemy attacks until his bombs had been released on the objective; in the air battle that continued after the bombers left the target, Capt Pease's aircraft fell behind the formation and was lost. The group returned to the US late in 1942.

• The 24th Pursuit Group was wiped out on Luzon in the spring of 1942 during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines. Some pilots escaped to Australia where they were assigned to other units. The unit was never remanned or reequipped, but remained on active status until April 2, 1946

See also: 5th Interceptor Command

See also

United States Air Force portal

• United States Army Air Forces in the Pacific War (1941–1945)
  • USAAF in the Central Pacific
  • USAAF in the South Pacific
  • USAAF in the Southwest Pacific
  • USAAF in Okinawa
• Bakers Creek air crash

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
• Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0892010975
• RAAF Museum, Point Cook - RAAF Bases

External links

Military of the United States portal

USAAF Fifth Air Force in World War II Previously: Philippine Department Air Force (1941); Far East Air Force (1941-1942) Airfields Pacific USAAF in Australia · USAAF in the Southwest Pacific · USAAF in Okinawa Units Commands V Bomber  · V Fighter  · 5th Interceptor (Provisional) Wings 54th Troop Carrier · 85th Fighter · 86th Fighter · 91st Reconnaissance · 308th Bombardment · 309th Bombardment · 310th Bombardment Groups Air Commando 3d Air Commando Bombardment 3d Bombardment · 7th Bombardment · 19th Bombardment · 22d Bombardment · 27th Bombardment · 38th Bombardment · 43d Bombardment · 90th Bombardment · 312th Bombardment · 345th Bombardment · 380th Bombardment · 417th Bombardment Combat Cargo 2d Combat Cargo Fighter 8th Fighter · 24th Pursuit · 35th Fighter · 49th Fighter · 58th Fighter · 348th Fighter · 475th Fighter Reconnaissance 6th Reconnaissance · 71st Reconnaissance Troop Carrier 317th Troop Carrier · 374th Troop Carrier · 375th Troop Carrier · 433d Troop Carrier Squadrons Bombardment 31st Bombardment Night Fighter 418th Night Fighter · 421st Night Fighter · 547th Night Fighter Reconnaissance 2d Observation · 8th Photographic Reconnaissance · 36th Photographic Reconnaissance Troop Carrier 21st Troop Carrier · 22d Troop Carrier · 65th Troop Carrier · 66th Troop Carrier United States Army Air Forces First · Second · Third · Fourth · Fifth · Sixth · Seventh · Eighth · Ninth · Tenth · Eleventh · Twelfth · Thirteenth · Fourteenth · Fifteenth · Twentieth