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    Charters Towers Airfield Queensland Australia
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3rd BG c1942

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Alexander Herr 2005
Location
Lat 20° 2' 35S 146° 16' 23E  Charters Towers Airfield is located at an elevation of 955' to the north of Charters Towers in the Flora Valley on a ridge bordering Mount Carmel College.

Construction

During early 1942, the Australian Civil Construction Corps built two surfaced crossed runways, completed in a record six weeks while working day and night to complete the runways. On March 25, 1942 the first aircraft to land on the new runway was an A-24 Dive Bomber from the 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG).

U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) units based at Charters Towers
27th BG, 16th BS (A-24) April 1 - May 4, 1942 Hunter Field, USA
27th BG, 17th BS (A-24) April 1 - May 4, 1942 Hunter Field, USA
27th BG, 91st BS (A-24) Brisbane arrives March 24, 1942
3rd BG, 8th BS (A-24, B-25) Brisbane arrives Mar 17, 1942Mar 31, 1942 returns Jan 28, 1943 to 3 Mile Drome
3rd BG, 13th BS (B-25) Brisbane arrives March 10, 1942January 10, 1943 departs Port Moresby
3rd BG, 89th BS (A-20) September 1, 1942 departs 3 Mile Drome
3rd BG, HQ Brisbane arrives March 10, 1942–January 28, 1943 departs Port Moresby
3rd BG, 90th BS (B-25) January 28, 1943 departs Port Moresby
475th FG, Headquarters (P-38) activated May 14, 1943–June 11, 1943 departs Amberley Field
475th FG, 431st FS (P-38) activated May 14, 1943July 1, 1943 departs Amberley Field
475th FG, 432nd FS (P-38) activated May 14, 1943–June 11, 1943 departs Amberley Field
475th FG, 433rd FS (P-38) activated May 14, 1943June 17, 1943 departs Amberley Field

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) units based at Charters Towers

No. 22 Squadron (Boston)

William Smith adds:
The C.O. had instructed the new pilots to keep their flying skills sharp and had mentioned that buzzing was not restricted in this area. He relates a humorous anecdote about a friend's B-25 buzzing an Australian train.

B-24D "Double Trouble" 42-41226
Crashed January 29, 1944

Today
Still in use today as Charters Tower Airport. Airport codes ICAO: YCHT, IATA: CXT. Classified as a small airport with two runways. The first is oriented 19/01 measures 3,297' x 98' surfaced with gravel. The second is oriented 24/06 measures 5,695' x 100' surfaced with asphalt.

Portions of the former airfield are on private property. Tourist visiting the area can contact the National Trust Tourist Information Centre, Stock Exchange Building, Mossman Street, Charters Towers. Telephone: +61 07 47872374.

On May 14, 2000 Charters Towers WWII Airfield Gun Firing Range and Compass Swinging Station was entered as a Queensland Heritage Register Site 602739. The site is located off Corinda Avenue at coordinates -20.035049, 146.267525.

Charters Towers Airfield Museum (Closed?)
Museum at the former airfield. P-40K 42-45981 cockpit section was displayed at the museum

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Last Updated
April 19, 2021

 

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