Lockhart River Airport (also known as Iron Range Airport) is an airport in Lockhart River,

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , establishe ...

, Australia, located approximately north of Cairns on the eastern coast of

Cape York Peninsula Cape York Peninsula is a large peninsula located in Far North Queensland, Australia. It is the largest unspoiled wilderness in northern Australia.Mittermeier, R.E. et al. (2002). Wilderness: Earth’s last wild places. Mexico City: Agrupació ...

. Being so remote with the road to Lockhart River being unpassable during the tropical wet season, the airport provides a vital transport hub for the community as well as being the only means of freighting in critical medical and other supplies during the summer months.

History

The airport was constructed during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, and was used as a bomber and communications base for many years. Known World War II

United States Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

Fifth Air Force The Fifth Air Force (5 AF) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It is the U.S. Air Force's oldest continuously serving Numbered Air Force. The organizat ...

units assigned to Iron Range Airport were: *

22d Bombardment Group D, or d, is the fourth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''dee'' (pronounced ), plural ''dees''. History Th ...

, (29 September 1942 – 4 February 1943) :

19th Bombardment Squadron 19 (nineteen) is the natural number following 18 and preceding 20. It is a prime number. Mathematics 19 is the eighth prime number, and forms a sexy prime with 13, a twin prime with 17, and a cousin prime with 23. It is the third full re ...

, (15 September 1942 – 4 February 1943) B-26 Marauder : 33d Bombardment Squadron, (29 September 1942 – 4 February 1943) B-26 Marauder * 90th Bombardment Group, (November 1942-February 1943) (Headquarters) * 64th Bombardment Squadron (

43d Bombardment Group The Poor Relief Act 1601 (43 Eliz 1 c 2) was an Act of the Parliament of England. The Act for the Relief of the Poor 1601, popularly known as the Elizabethan Poor Law, "43rd Elizabeth" or the Old Poor Law was passed in 1601 and created a poor la ...

), (12 October-8 November 1942) B-17 Flying Fortress * 65th Bombardment Squadron (43d Bombardment Group), (13 October-7 November 1942) B-17 Flying Fortress * 403d Bombardment Squadron (43d Bombardment Group), (17 October-23 November 1942) B-17 Flying Fortress In addition, the 479th Service Squadron provided supplies for the B-26 and B-17s assigned to the airport, as well as operating a repair and maintenance depot for B-24 Liberator aircraft.

Airlines and destinations

Accidents and incidents

On 7 May 2005 a

Fairchild Metroliner The Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner (previously the Swearingen Metro and later Fairchild Aerospace Metro) is a 19-seat, pressurized, twin-turboprop airliner first produced by Swearingen Aircraft and later by Fairchild Aircraft at a plant in San ...

aircraft crashed north-west of Lockhart River Airport, killing all 15 people on board. The aircraft had flown from

Bamaga Bamaga ( , ) is a small town and locality about from the northern tip of Cape York in the north of Queensland, Australia. It is within the Northern Peninsula Area Region. It is one of the northernmost settlements in continental Australia and i ...

and was preparing to land at the airport.

References

External links

Lockhart River Airport Upgrade Proposal
{{authority control Airports in Queensland Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Australia Buildings and structures in Far North Queensland Queensland in World War II

History

Airlines and destinations

Accidents and incidents

See also

References

External links