Snake Bay Airport

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Snake Bay Airport
IATA: SNB – ICAO: YSNB
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator Government
Serves Melville Island, Australia
Location Milikapiti, Northern Territory
Elevation AMSL 173 ft / 53 m
Coordinates 11°25′22″S 130°39′13″E / -11.42278, 130.65361
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
13/31 1,443 4,734 Asphalt
Source: DAFIF[1][2]

Snake Bay Airport (IATA: SNB, ICAO: YSNB) is located at Milikapiti, Northern Territory on the northern coast of Melville Island, Australia.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] World War II

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) built the airfield as a forward fighter aerodrome, during World War II as part of the proposed strategic amphibious operations by Allied forces against the Tanimbar Islands and Kai Islands. It was proposed to accommodate a RAAF Fighter Wing and a United States Army Air Force Fighter Group.

Construction was started on 7 July 1944, by No. 9 Mobile Works Unit RAAF with the help of 40 Aborigines. The airfield was operational on 30 August 1944. Two side by side runways 1,829 meters (6,001 ft) long were constructed.[3]

The airfield was never fully utilized as the proposed amphibious operations were canceled and replaced with Papua Campaign. The airfield was known as Austin Strip and RAAF Melville Island.

[edit] Units based at Austin Strip

  • No. 6 Communications Unit RAAF
  • No. 9 Mobile Works Unit RAAF

[edit] Airlines and destinations

  • Air Ngukurr - Darwin

[edit] References

  1. ^ Airport information for YSNB at World Aero Data. Source: DAFIF.
  2. ^ Airport information for SNB at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF.
  3. ^ OzatWar website

[edit] External links


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