Barcaldine Airfield

Airfield
Central-West

Capricorn Highway, Barcaldine 4725

A civil landing area (Department of Civil Aviation landingground # 831) existed just north-west of the town at the outbreak of the Second World War. It did not have any hard standing defined runways but like many such grounds that site did see passing service aircraft traffic.

History

Local historical records attest to the unscheduled stopover of likely an American twin-engine Douglas Havoc, although it is not clear whether any photographic evidence of the event survives.

American Army Units, particularly an Afro American labour battalion was camped for a time near the town. Late in the Second World War period Australian authorities did move to construct a number of hard surfaced runways on a new site on the eastern fringe. This site services the town of Barcaldine today.

Source/comments

Roger and Jenny Marks, 'Queensland Airfields WW2—50 Years On'