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Some information about the Airstrips from the US Navy
Fleet Radio Unit. In an undated report believed to deal
with the selection of a site for the HFDF installation, The
intercept station was located on a series of lightly wooded
hills and rises about three miles from Adelaide River
center. Adjacent to the station was a large clay pan some
miles in area, which had been used as an emergency landing
strip during 1942 but was abandoned since it could only be
used during the dry season. During the wet season, it
would flood to a depth of a few inches with the unflooded
area turning into wet clay while in the dry season, the
surface turned to a powder dry surface soil of low
conductivity. However, even in the dry season, water could
always be found a few feet beneath the surface. It was
decided that this particular clay pan would serve well as an
HFDF site; particularly since this and other clay pans in
the area were about the only flat areas of sufficient size. |
I have recently come by
information that a USAAF 49th Fighter Pursuit Group Squadron
was using the airstrip for a short time and had a small camp
on the edge of the flood plain to the East of Haynes Road on
Mt Bundy Station, The type of aircraft was the P-40
Kittyhawk/Warhawk. |
I
have information about the Camera used that took most if not
all of the AWM Photo's starting with S/n NWA
were taken
by the RAAF official photographer John Harrison. He used an
Anniversary Speed Graphic
1940-1946, to which
he could attach different lenses. The telephoto lens made
objects appear closer than they appear in many photo's .
Wartime model: no chrome. Bed and Body track rails linked,
allowing focusing of wide angle lens within body. Solid wire
frame viewfinder. Trim on face of body is found only on top
and sides,
|
Click on photo for a larger view
I would like to thank Mr Edwin
Ride at the A.W.M .Photographic section for having the
caption changed from Strauss Airstrip to the RAAF Airstrip
at Adelaide River situated on Mt Bundy Station. Of course
the strips are no longer visible but I knew where they were.
After Identifying the tree back in November 2011 it took
until the end of May 2012 to convince the team in Canberra
to make the change,
Thank you Edwin. |
43rd Service Squadron USAAF at Adelaide River
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As seen by the tracks we took many tourists to
this site
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