RAAF Base Darwin

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RAAF Base Darwin
IATA: DRW - ICAO: YPDN
Summary
Airport type		Public
Operator		Darwin International Airport / RAAF
Serves		Darwin, Northern Territory
Elevation AMSL		103 ft (31 m)
Coordinates		12°24′53″S, 130°52′36″E
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	ft	m
11/29	11,004	3,354	Asphalt
18/36	5,000	1,524	Asphalt

RAAF Base Darwin (IATA: DRW, ICAO: YPDN) is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base located in the city of Darwin, Northern Territory. The base shares its runway with Darwin International Airport.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Units based at RAAF Darwin during World War II 2 Units 3 References

[edit] History

Construction of the airfield began in 1938 and RAAF Station Darwin was established on 1 June 1940, from elements of No. 12 Squadron RAAF. No. 13 Squadron RAAF was also created at the same time and was based at the base. Charles Eaton was the first Commanding Officer between 1940-1941.

No. 12 Squadron RAAF relocated from Parap Airfield, Northern Territory in April 1941 to RAAF Station Darwin. The base hosted a large number of RAAF and United States Army Air Force units during World War II. The base was bombed by Japanese forces many times, beginning with two major air raids on 19 February 1942.

[edit] Units based at RAAF Darwin during World War II

• No. 12 Squadron RAAF
• No. 13 Squadron RAAF
• No. 34 Squadron RAAF
• HQ Far East Air Force, HQ 5th Bomber Command - 25 December 1941 - 14 January 1942

In 1975, during the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy, the base was the centre of the largest airlift in Australian history in which the majority of Darwin's inhabitants were evacuated.

The Base is an emergency landing site for the NASA Space Shuttle due to the length of its runway.

RAAF Darwin is also the only location outside of any US territory where a B2 stealth bomber has landed.

[edit] Units

Unit name	FEG	Aircraft
No. 44 Wing Detachment Darwin	Surveillance and Response Group
No. 92 Wing Detachment B	Surveillance and Response Group	P-3C
Headquarters No. 396 Combat Support Wing	Combat Support Group
No. 13 Squadron	Combat Support Group
No. 1 Air Terminal Squadron Detachment Darwin	Combat Support Group
No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit	Surveillance and Response Group
No. 321 Combat Support Squadron	Combat Support Group
Bare Base Management Flight	Combat Support Group

[edit] References

• RAAF Museum website
• OzatWar website