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 USAAF July 15, 1943  Richard Rudd, 1983   M. Musumeci 2006  M. Musumeci 2007 |
Location Lat 12° 47' 13S Long 143° 18' 17E Iron Range Airfield is located at an elevation of 77' above sea level at Iron Range in Queensland in Australia. Still in use today as Lockhart River Airport. Construction Built by the U.S. Army with three runways: Claude 1, Claude 2 and Gordons (bomber strip). They also built a road from Portland Roads inland to the airfield area. Wartime History Starting in the middle of September 1942, used by the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) by medium bombers and later heavy bombers. American units based at Iron Range Iron Range Airfield 22nd BG, 19th BS (B-26) Woodstock arrives September 15, 1942–February 4, 1943 departs Woodstock 22nd BG, 33rd BS (B-26) Woodstock arrives September 29, 1942–February 4 1943 departs Woodstock 22nd BG, Headquarters (HQ) Woodstock arrives September 29, 42–Feb 4, 43 departs Woodstock 43rd BG, 64th BS (B-17s) arrives ?–October 12, 1942 departs Fenton 43rd BG, 65th BS (B-17s) Torrens Creek arrives October 13, 1942–November 6, 1942 departs Mareeba 43rd BG, 403rd BS (B-17s) Torrens Creek arrives October 17, 1942–November 23, 1942 departs Turnbull 90th BG, Headquarters (HQ) Hickam arrives November 4, 1942–February 10, 1943 departs 5 Mile Drome (Ward) 90th BG, 319th BS (B-24s) Hickam arrives November 4, 1942–February 2, 1943 departs Darwin 90th BG, 320th BS (B-24s) Hickam arrives November 4, 1942–February 10, 1943 departs 5 Mile Drome (Ward) 90th BG, 321st BS (B-24s) Hickam arrives November 4, 1942–February 10, 1943 departs 5 Mile Drome (Ward) 90th BG, 400th BS (B-24s) Hickam arrives November 4, 1942–March 22, 1943 departs 5 Mile Drome (Ward) On November 16, 1942 shortly after midnight, B-24 Liberators of the 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG) took off on their first bombing mission against Rabaul. Due to inexperience and the the runway landing lights being too far apart and obscured by dust, B-24D "Bombs To Nip On" 41-23942 crashed destroying B-17F 41-24522 and damaging B-24D 41-23765, B-24D 41-23812 and B-24D "Big Emma" 41-23751. A total of eleven personnel were killed. Today The Gordons runway is still in use today as Lockhart River Airport and is classified as a small airport. The single runway is oriented 30/12 measures 4,919' x 98' surfaced with asphalt. The other wartime era runways are disused since the war and overgrown. Richard Rudd visited the area in the 1980s: "When we bush bashed around that area cracking rocks and doing geological sampling, we found coke bottles, old helmets and on top of a hill to the east of the field, there was a tree with a large blaze cut on it, with an arrow and E, spelt out in .45 shells hammered into wood. These were dated 1941. Down by the strip on logs was a B-26(?) wing and the fuselage only of a Kittyhawk. No wings, tail and nothing from the firewall fwd. Recovered in the '70s I believe by Jack McDonald (?). Also some bits of the P-47D 42-22973 that hit into P-40N 42-105306." Lockhart River (Iron Range) Memorial Established on ANZAC day, April 25, 2005. The Memorial Wall is situated in the confines of the Iron Range (Lockhart River) Airport area for all community members and visitors to the community of Lockhart River. B-26 "Kansas Comet II" 40-1433 Pilot Krell crashed September 13, 1942 P-40N Warhawk 42-105913 Pilot Warren abandoned at the airfield. Salvaged circa 1973-4 by M. Armstrong P-40N Warhawk 42-105306 Pilot Hawke collided with P-47 42-22973, Wreckage recovered in 1973 P-47D Thunderbolt Serial Number 42-22973 Pilot Metler collided with P-40 42-105306. Wreckage recovered References Fight For Survival page 30 description of Iron Range Thanks to Michael Musumeci for memorial information, Iron Range Airfield Memorial by Michael Musumeci Contribute
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