Eagle Farm Airport

Infobox Airport
name = Eagle Farm Airport (disused)
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type = Public/Military
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location = Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
built = expanded in 1942
used = 1942 - 1946
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Eagle Farm Airport was a small airport located convert|6|km|mi south-west of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

History

An area located near Eagle Farm Racecourse was initially used as a landing field in 1922 and Eagle Farm Aerodrome was officially opened in 1925. It was used for scheduled flights between Brisbane and Queensland regional centres by the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited (Qantas), which operated from Eagle Farm in 1926 and formed the Brisbane Flying Training School there in 1927.

Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, Charles Ulm, Harry Lyon (navigator) and James Warner (radio operator) landed the Southern Cross at Eagle Farm on 9 June 1928 after its trans-Pacific flight from Oakland, California. About 16,000 people greeted the Southern Cross upon its landing.

The Australian National Airways (ANA) began a aerial service from Eaglle Farm to Sydney, New South Wales in 1930. Eagle Farm was closed in 1931 after civil operations were relocated to Archerfield Airport.

Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Gordon Taylor took off from Eagle Farm airport on 20 October 1934 in the Lady Southern Cross attempting the first eastward trans-Pacific flight from Australia to the United States of America.

World War II

The aerodrome was compulsory acquired and taken over by the Royal Australian Air Force on 8 March 1940.

Eagle Farm was extended and reopened in January 1942, during World War II by the United States Army Air Force (USAAF), due to the proximity to the Brisbane River. The aerodrome was used as a reassembly and test airfield for aircraft shipped from the United States.

An Allison Engine Testing Area at Eagle Farm was built to test Allison Engines that had been assembled or overhauled at the GMH Allison Overhaul Assembly Plant at Albion, Queensland.

The Air Technical Intelligence Unit (ATIU) of the Allied Air Forces utilised Hangar No. 7 at Eagle Farm to test and to train in, captured damaged Imperial Japanese aircraft.

Units based at Eagle Farm Aerodrome

*8th Fighter Group USAAF
*35th Fighter Group USAAF
*44th Depot Repair Squadron of 81st Air Depot Group USAAF

Post war

After World War II, Ansett ANA and Trans Australia Airlines moved their operations to Eagle Farm.

By the 1970's it was clear that the facilities at Eagle Farm were inadequate for a city of Brisbane's size and anticipated growth. The Federal Government announced the construction of a new airport to be built north of Eagle Farm. The new airport was built by Leighton Holdings and Brisbane Airport opened in 1988.

Aircraft crashes

A number of aircraft crashed at Eagles Farm during World War II.
*25 November 1942 - Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force, Curtiss-Wright CW-22 Falcon
*14 January 1943 - USAAF, B-25C Mitchell, Serial Number #41-12438
*28 March 1943 - USAAF, B-25C Mitchell, Serial Number #42-32314
*23 April 1943 - USAAF, B-25C Mitchell, Serial Number #41-12496
*12 July 1943 - USAAF, Curtiss-Wright CW-22B, Serial Number #65-3765
*21 July 1943 - ATIU, captured A6M3 "Hamp"
*18 September 1945 - USAAF, C-47A Dakota, Serial Number #42-23485

References

* [http://home.st.net.au/~dunn/eaglefarm.htm OzatWar website]
* [http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/heritage/index.cgi?place=601007&back=1 Queensland Government Heritage Listing]