Mareeba Airfield
{{Short description|Airport in Queensland, Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2013}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = Mareeba Airfield
| nativename = Mareeba Airport
| nativename-a =
| nativename-r =
| image = B-17e-41-2562-mareeba-1942.jpg
| image-width =
| caption = USAAF 19th Bomb Group personnel on parade at Mareeba, with B-17E 41-2562 (Tojo's Jinx) (scrapped in New Guinea 1945) in late 1942
| IATA = MRG
| ICAO = YMBA
| type = Public
| owner =
| operator = Tablelands Regional Council
| owner-oper =
| city-served =
| location = Mareeba, Queensland, Australia
| elevation-f = 1,560
| coordinates = {{coord|17|04|09|S|145|25|09|E|region:AU-QLD|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map = Queensland
| pushpin_label = YMBA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Queensland
| website =
| metric-rwy = Y
| r1-number = 10/28
| r1-length-m = 1,505
| r1-surface = Asphalt
| footnotes = Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart{{AIP AU|YMBA|name=Mareeba}}, [http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aip/current/dap/MBAAD01-125.pdf Aeronautical Chart]
}}
File:B-17e-41-2489-mareeba-1942.jpg
Mareeba Airfield {{airport codes|MRG|YMBA}} is an airfield located {{Convert|4.3|NM|lk=in}} south of Mareeba, Queensland, Australia. Built in 1942 as a US Army Air Force base during World War II, the airfield had two runways, with a complement of taxiways, hardstands and a containment area. After the war, much of the airfield reverted to agricultural use, while the southern runway remains as an active airfield.[http://www.pacificwrecks.com/airfields/australia/mareeba/index.html Mareeba Airfield (Hoevet Field) QLD Australia]
History
=World War II=
A major US Army Air Force Base during World War II, Mareeba housed both heavy bomber and fighter squadrons of that Service in 1942 and 1943. The Americans referred to it as Hoevet Field in honor of Major Dean Carol "Pinky" Hoevet who was killed on 16 August 1942. Known USAAF units assigned were:{{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|orig-year=1969|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180455/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 20 December 2016 |edition= reprint|year=1982|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-405-12194-6|oclc=72556|lccn=70605402}}Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. {{ISBN|0-89201-092-4}}.
- 19th Bombardment Group, (Headquarters) (24 July 1942 – 23 October 1943)
: 28th Bombardment Squadron B-17 Flying Fortress, (23 July 1942 – 25 October 1943)
: 30th Bombardment Squadron B-17 Flying Fortress, (23 July 1942 – 25 October 1943)
: 93d Bombardment Squadron B-17 Flying Fortress, (23 July 1942 – 25 October 1943)
- 63d Bombardment Squadron B-17 Flying Fortress (43d Bombardment Group), (20 August 1942 – 23 January 1943)
- 64th Bombardment Squadron B-17 Flying Fortress (43d Bombardment Group), (8 November 1942 – 20 January 1943)
- 65th Bombardment Squadron B-17 Flying Fortress (43d Bombardment Group), (7 November 1942 – 20 January 1943)
- 403d Bombardment Squadron B-17 Flying Fortress (43d Bombardment Group), (21 January – 11 May 1943)
- 8th Fighter Group, (Headquarters) (February–16 May 1943)
: 35th Fighter Squadron, P-39 Airacobra (24 February – May 1943)
: 36th Fighter Squadron, P-39 Airacobra (22 February – 22 May 1943)
: 80th Fighter Squadron, P-39 Airacobra (6 February – 21 March 1943)
The airfield became operational in May 1942 with the first lodger unit being 100 Squadron RAAF. Following their departure in early July, the airfield was occupied by USAAF heavy bomber squadrons from the US 5th Air Force which flew hundreds of bombing raids on enemy targets in the South Pacific; most notably Rabaul. With the departure of the American units, Mareeba was used by No 5 Communication Unit and a variety of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) support units, with No 24 Operational Base Unit disbanding in early 1946.
=Modern use=
Today, the airfield hosts a museum with several World War II vintage airplanes on display in a flyable condition,[http://www.warbirdadventures.com.au/ Warbird Adventures Aviation Museum, Mareeba] and a major maintenance facility for Mission Aviation Fellowship.[http://www.maf.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=86&Itemid=158] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720232032/http://www.maf.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=86&Itemid=158|date=20 July 2008}} The airfield is home for the North Queensland Aero Club.
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
External links
{{Commons category|Mareeba Airfield}}
- [http://www.warbirdadventures.com.au/ Warbird Adventures Aviation Museum, Mareeba]
{{Portal bar|Royal Australian Air Force|Aviation}}
{{Airports in Australia}}
{{Airports in Queensland}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Australia
Category:Airports in Queensland
Category:Airports established in 1942