Strauss Airfield

{{Infobox airport

| name = Strauss Airfield

| nativename =

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| image = 452 Squadron RAAF Spitfire pilots Strauss NT Dec 1944 AWM NWA0708.jpg

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| caption = Pilots of No. 452 Squadron RAAF being briefed by the Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader L. T. (Lou) Spence, circa December 1944 (right, kneeling)

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| pushpin_map = Northern Territory

| pushpin_map_caption = Location of airport in Northern Territory

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| pushpin_label_position = bottom

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| location = Noonamah, Northern Territory

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| coordinates = {{coord|12|39|31.7|S|131|04|39.6|E|region:AU-NT_type:landmark|display=inline, title}}

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| r1-length-f = 5000

| r1-length-m = 1524

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Strauss Airfield was an airfield in the Northern Territory of Australia in the locality of Noonamah constructed between 19 March to 27 April 1942 during World War II. It was also known as 27 Mile Field or Humpty Doo Strip.

History

File:Drakeford visits 76 Squadron RAAF at Strauss NT May 1942 AWM NWA0420.jpg, Minister for Air and Civil Aviation, on a tour of No. 76 Squadron RAAF, May 1942}}]]

Constructed by sections of the United States Army 808th Engineer Aviation Battalion, they built a single runway of {{Convert|5000|x|100|ft|abbr=on|0}} wide with associated taxiways and dispersals.

The airfield was officially dedicated as Strauss Field in memory and honour of United States Captain Allison W. Strauss who was killed piloting a P-40 Kittyhawk from the 8th Pursuit Squadron ("The Blacksheep") of the 49th Fighter Group after crashing into Darwin harbour during a Japanese air raid on the Darwin RAAF airfield on 27 April 1942.

On 13 October 2003, the Strauss Airfield was added to the Northern Territory Heritage Register.{{cite web |title=WWII Strauss Airstrip |url=http://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/heritageregister/f?p=103:302:7402062073136992::NO::P302_SITE_ID:310 |website=Heritage Register |publisher=Northern Territory Government |accessdate=4 May 2019 |date=13 October 2003}}

Japanese Bombing Raids against Strauss Airfield

26 November 1942 (03.20 am)
27 November 1942 (03:56 – 04:46 am)

Units based at Strauss Airfield

References

External links

[http://milepegsnt.com/site/lt-col-bernard-l-robinson-reports-on-the-nt-june-1942/ Lt. Col Bernard L. Robinson Reports on the NT June 1942]
[http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/heritage/ntregister/declared/display.html?strauss Strauss Airfield – NT Heritage Listing]
[http://www.ozatwar.com/ozatwar/strauss.htm OzatWar website]

Category:Former Royal Australian Air Force bases

Category:World War II airfields in Australia

Category:Defunct airports in the Northern Territory

Category:Airports established in 1942

Category:1942 establishments in Australia

Category:Northern Territory Heritage Register