RAAF Base Darwin

Infobox Airport
name = RAAF Base Darwin
nativename =
nativename-a =
nativename-r =


image-width =
caption =
IATA = DRW
ICAO = YPDN
type = Military/Public
owner =
operator = Darwin International Airport / RAAF
city-served =
location = Darwin, Northern Territory
elevation-f = 103
elevation-m = 31
coordinates = Coord|12|24|53|S|130|52|36|E|type:airport|display=inline,title
website =
metric-elev =
metric-rwy =
r1-number = 11/29
r1-length-f = 11,004
r1-length-m = 3,354
r1-surface = Asphalt
r2-number = 18/36
r2-length-f = 5,000
r2-length-m = 1,524
r2-surface = Asphalt
stat-year =
stat1-header =
stat1-data =
stat2-header =
stat2-data =
footnotes =

RAAF Base Darwin airport codes|DRW|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.

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.

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.

Units

References

* [http://www.raaf.gov.au/raafmuseum/research/bases/darwin.htm RAAF Museum website]
* [http://www.ozatwar.com/airfields/raafdarwin.htm OzatWar website]