Long Airfield was a
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 ...
military airfield located in the locality of
Douglas-Daly, Northern Territory,
.
Also known as "Long Strip", the airfield was constructed in late 1943 by
No.14 Airfield Construction Squadron RAAF. The bitumen surfaced runway was wide. Fifty three aircraft dispersal bays with some protected with earth revetments were also constructed. It was named after Pilot Officer Brian E. Long of
No. 2 Squadron RAAF
No. 2 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) squadron that operates from RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle, New South Wales. From its formation in 1916 as part of the Australian Flying Corps, it has flown a variety of aircraft types ...
, who was presumably killed in action on 17 June 1942.
Long Airfield was generally employed in an associated and support role for nearby
Fenton Airfield
Fenton Airfield was a World War II military airfield in the Northern Territory of Australia located at Tipperary Station in what is now the locality of Douglas-Daly and named after flight lieutenant Clyde Fenton.
Abandoned since 1945, th ...
. The airfield has been abandoned since 1945. Viewed from the air, the remains of the main runway are visible, along with taxiways and aircraft hardstands visible, but in a very deteriorated state. No buildings or other structures remain.
The airfield is accessible by road by traveling south on Stuart Highway (Highway 1) then turning west on Dorat Road (Highway 23), then turning south after about on Douglas Road. The airfield lies to the east, after about , by crossing some scrubland. A 4-wheel drive vehicle is recommended for the offroad travel.
Long Airfield was listed on the now-defunct
Register of the National Estate on 25 March 1986.
Long Airfield and some associated facilities were considered for listing on the
Northern Territory Heritage Register
The Northern Territory Heritage Register is a heritage register, being a statutory list of places in the Northern Territory of Australia that are protected by the Northern Territory statute, the ''Heritage Act 2011''. The register is maintained b ...
beginning with a nomination in 2002 and concluding with the lapsing of the nomination in 2013 due to the objections to the proposed listing by the owner of the land.
Japanese Air Raids against Long Airfield
*14 August 1943
*15 September 1943 (00:25 am)
*18 September 1943 (03:50 am)
Units based at Long Airfield
* 529th Bombardment Squadron (
380th Bombardment Group
38 may refer to:
*38 (number), the natural number following 37 and preceding 39
*one of the years 38 BC, AD 38, 1938
Events
January
* January 1
** The new constitution of Estonia enters into force, which many consider to be the ending ...
), (7 November 1943 – 10 July 1944)
* 531st Bombardment Squadron (
380th Bombardment Group
38 may refer to:
*38 (number), the natural number following 37 and preceding 39
*one of the years 38 BC, AD 38, 1938
Events
January
* January 1
** The new constitution of Estonia enters into force, which many consider to be the ending ...
), (5 December 1943 – 21 July 1944)
*
No. 23 Squadron RAAF
Operations
B-24 Liberators from the 529th and 531st Bomb Squadrons moved to Long Field from
Manbulloo Airfield
Manbulloo Airfield was a World War II airfield built at Manbulloo Station, near Katherine, Northern Territory.
History
Works on the airfield were initially undertaken by the 43rd Engineer Regiment (US Army) in April 1942. The Allied Works Cou ...
and attacked Japanese airfields, ground installations, shipping, and industries in the
Netherlands East Indies and the
Bismarck Archipelago. Other missions included disruption of enemy sea channels; dropping photoflash bombs and propaganda pamphlets. Both squadrons were reassigned to
Darwin in July 1944.
See also
*
United States Army Air Forces in Australia
During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces established a series of airfields in Australia for the collective defense of the country, as well as for conducting offensive operations against the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy. From thes ...
(World War II)
*
List of airports in the Northern Territory
This is a list of airports in the Australian territory of the Northern Territory.
__TOC__
List of airports
The list is sorted by the name of the community served, click the sort buttons in the table header to switch listing order. Airports n ...
References
* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. .
*
External links
USAF Historical Record Agency Document 00048061
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Former Royal Australian Air Force bases
Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Australia
World War II airfields in Australia
Defunct airports in the Northern Territory
Airports established in 1943
Northern Territory places listed on the defunct Register of the National Estate