Cloncurry Airport

Cloncurry Airport
IATA: CNJ – ICAO: YCCY CNJ Location of the airport in Queensland
Summary
Location		Cloncurry, Queensland
Elevation AMSL		616 ft / 188 m
Coordinates		20°40′00″S 140°30′28″E / 20.6666667°S 140.50778°E / -20.6666667; 140.50778
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	ft	m
06/24	3,796	1,157	Asphalt
12/34	6,562	2,000	Asphalt

Cloncurry Airport (IATA: CNJ, ICAO: YCCY) is an airport in Cloncurry, Queensland, Australia.

History

Cloncurry Airport has been the focal point for many of Australia’s greatest innovations. Cloncurry was involved with the beginnings of QANTAS, and the original QANTAS Hangar is still in use at the aerodrome, where “Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service” is still displayed above the hangar door.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service was founded there in 1928, now recognised the world over. The airport was also on route for early planes coming from overseas and a stopping place for contestants in the great air races of 1919 and 1934.

World War II

Due to the strategic importance of Cloncurry aerodrome on the main Darwin–Sydney air route, the Royal Australian Air Force expanded the aerodrome during World War II. Intended to be a major airbase should the Imperial Japanese have occupied New Guinea and Papua.

During the Second World World War II, Cloncurry Airport was the site of a major United States Army Air Force air base in 1942. As the war moved north, the USAAF units located north to forward bases.

List of Wartime Military Units Based at Cloncurry Aerodrome

• No. 29 Operational Base Unit RAAF - 22 June 1942 – 5 July 1943
• No. 30 Operational Base Unit RAAF - 12 December 1942 – 19 September 1946
• No. 107 Radar Station RAAF - 1 June 1942 – 11 September 1942
• No. 108 Radar Station RAAF - 1 June 1942 – 11 September 1942
• USAAF 19th Bombardment Group B-17 Flying Fortress

HQ 19th Bomb Group assigned to Essendon Airport, Melbourne, Vic.

28th Bombardment Squadron, (28 March-5 May 1942)

Detachment operated from: Perth Airport, Perth, Western Australia, (28 March-18 May 1942)

30th Bombardment Squadron, (24 March-13 May 1942)

93d Bombardment Squadron, (29 March-18 May 1942)

Airlines and destinations

Airlines	Destinations
Qantas operated by QantasLink	Mount Isa, Townsville

See also

World War II portal

• United States Army Air Forces in Australia (World War II)

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

• Pacific Wrecks database
• RAAF Museum website
• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
• Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN