Location
Located
100km south of Darwin.
Construction
This sealed strip was built by the Australians in late
1942 and named after Flying doctor Clyde Fenton, and improved into early 1943. It was used
by both the RAAF and USAAF during WWII.
Jim Wright, The Flying Circus, page 95 adds:
"Aussie construction crews had finished the broad airstrip, with thirty-five revetments, semicircular patches of paving sticking out from four paved lanes that connected with the main runway."
Units Based at Fenton
5th Air Force
43rd BG B-17's
90th BG 319th BS B-24's
380th BG, 528 BS, 530th BS (B-24) from USA April 28, 1943 - Aug 20, 43 to Darwin
380th BG,
529 BS, 530 BS 531 BS (B-24)
RAAF Units
82nd Wing - 21, 23, 24 Squadron B-24's
Japanese Air Raids Against Fenton
Late April, 1943
(after arrival of 380th BG) a formation of Japanese bombers from (Koepang?) TImor bomb the strip in late afternoon from medium altitude. They disable one B-24 and other property damage. Reference The Flying Circus, page 98.
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