Woodstock Airfields

The United States (US) 46th Engineer Regiment probably shared work start dates at Woodstock with a part of their unit active a few kilometres northward at Antil Plains. Certainly P-39 Airacobras are recorded using the 104 degrees (most northerly) strip at Woodstock in their transit northward around April 1942.

Woodstock also had an attractive wide road reserve which was the Charters Towers road and like Antil this strip may have been sited with the object of it masquerading as part of the road. Equally as was the case at Antil, this strip became less used in favour of the southernmost strip bearing approximately 70 degrees magnetic.

Systematic RAAF airfield record photography over this airfield shows B-25 Mitchell Bombers of the US 345th BG (Air Apaches) on the ground at the eastern end of this strip. Several photos abound pre-dating this mid 1943 photography, showing B-26 aircraft and facilities such as mess buildings.

Currently an airstrip named Donnington Airpark exists, in what used to be the WWII dispersal areas. The wartime 104 degrees strip was integrated into the highway roadwork shortly after WWII.

The US 46th Engineers boast a detailed history of their activities in this area which includes a classic photograph of a dance evening within the then CWA hall at Woodstock. During research for Queensland Airfields (QAWW2) Roger Marks was fortunate to find that hall not just still in existence but also featuring the photo portrait which figured in the dance photo of May 1942.