Archerfield Airport
Encyclopedia
Archerfield Airport is a small airport located 7 1/2 miles (12 kilometres) at Archerfield
in the south west of Brisbane
, Queensland, Australia. For some time it was the primary airport in Brisbane. During World War II it was used as a Royal Australian Air Force station. Airport traffic peaked in the 1980s. In December 2010, a development plan was released for public comment which included a new parallel runway.
) was originally purchased in 1855 by Thomas Grenier, publican of the Brisbane Hotel in Russell St., South Brisbane. He purchased 640 acres (2.6 km²) of lightly timbered alluvial soil, some of the best grazing land in the district, for a price of £1,920.
Thomas Grenier called his property Oomoropilly. By April 1862 the property was almost established with most of the fences erected and a cottage with outbuildings and a stable erected. By 1865 the property had been subdivided into three farms. Thomas's son George Alexander Grenier and his wife Sarah Greenwood lived on the middle farm where they had been since 1863. Tom and his wife Mary Ann lived in the homestead called Willows which fronted onto Mortimer Road. Franklin Grenier occupied the farm which fronted onto Mortimer and Beatty Roads, and William Leichhardt Grenier ran the farm called Stoneleigh which had a long frontage onto Oxley Creek.
Thomas Grenier died in 1877 and was buried at the cemetery on his property. It was known as Oxley Cemetery at that time. This is now known as Grenier's Cemetery or God's Acre
and it is located at the main entrance to Archerfield aerodrome. Franklin Grenier died in 1889 and his farm was bought by the Beatty family in the early 1890s. The other two farms were also sold in the early 1900s.
In 1927 Captain Lester Brain
, chief flying instructor for Qantas
Airways, landed his DH-61 on Franklin's Farm which was located at the western side of the present aerodrome. His mission was to see if the site was suitable to become an airfield. A Civic Survey was carried out in 1928 by the Brisbane City Council and then in July 1929, part of the Oxley Ward was zoned for noxious trade as recommended in the Civic Survey and it was renamed Archerfield by the Brisbane City Council to distinguish it from the surrounding residential and farming areas.
The Government finally acquired about 300 acres (1.2 km²) of land in 1929. More land was purchased in 1930, 1936, 1942 and finally the cemetery (God's Acre) in 1946 resulting in a total area of 825 acres (3.3 km²). Two light gravel strips 5,000 feet x 500 feet were built and the aerodrome started operations.
In the 1930s Qantas moved their operations from Eagle Farm to Archerfield after the first hangars were erected at Archerfield. Ansett ANA and Trans Australia Airlines
both used Archerfield during the 1930s. The Queensland Aero Club, which was established in 1919, moved from Eagle Farm to Archerfield in 1931.
The Control Tower and many buildings at Archerfield were built during these busy years when Archerfield was the main airport in Brisbane. Although designed in 1936, it was not until 1941 that the Administrative building and Control Tower was finally erected at a cost of £15,000. The Control Tower on top of the Administrative building has since been dismantled.
, Archerfield became an important military airfield for the Royal Australian Air Force
, United States Army Air Forces
(USAAF), Royal Netherlands Air Force
and Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm
. The airport was home to RAAF Station Archerfield
from 1939 to 1956. Plaques commemorating the RAAF, USAAF
and Royal Navy
personnel who served in the Pacific theatre
can be viewed in the old administration building.
With the Japanese conquests in the Philippines
and much of the Southwest Pacific in 1941 and 1942, Brisbane became both the headquarters of the USAAF Fifth Air Force
, as well as a major logistics and maintenance center. Personnel transports and cargo shipping from the United States arrived at Brisbane's port facilities, with aircraft being unloaded and transported to Archerfield. The Air Technical Service Command 44th Depot Repair Squadron's mission was to uncrate and prepare these aircraft for combat units assigned to Australia. In addition, the squadron was tasked to perform depot-level repair on aircraft in service throughout Australia. Aircraft processed though the depot consisted of P-38, P-39, P-40, P-47, P-70, B-25, B-26, A-20, B-18, and B-24s. The United States Army 1622d Ordnance and Supply Company (Aviation) was the main organization coordinating warehousing of spare parts, receiving cargo and shipping supplies from Brisbane.
In addition to the maintenance and logistics, during 1942 the flight echelons of USAAF groups and squadrons assigned to Australia received their aircraft at Brisbane. After a short organizational stay, they were reassigned to their operational airfields around the country. Known USAAF units assigned were:
The main USAAF flying unit permanently assigned to Archerfield was the Air Transport Command
21st Troop Carrier Squadron from April 1942 to August 1944. Various USAAF bombers and fighters of various types transited the airport, however, thougout the war.
, Ansett ANA and Trans Australia Airlines
moved their operations to Eagle Farm Airport
. The improvements to Archerfield allowed it to assume its role of secondary and civil aviation
airport.
In 1998, the airport was leased by the Federal Airports Corporation
to the Archerfield Airport Corporation. Today, Archerfield is used mainly for civil aviation. It is home to the Department of Emergency Services rescue helicopter flights, No 219 Squadron of the Australian Air Force Cadets and still in their original hangar, the Royal Queensland Aero Club.
Archer Tower is only open between 0700 and 1700 hours. Outside these hours Archerfield becomes a CTAF(R) (Common Traffic Advisory Frequency). During this time the longest runway (10L) becomes the main active runway for both arrivals and departures. ATIS broadcast the phonetic letter Zulu to alert pilots that CTAF procedures are in effect.
Reporting Points
Archerfield has four inbound reporting points. These are Goodna from the west, Park Ridge Water Tower from the south, Target from the east and TV Towers from the north.
Aircraft reporting inbound are usually given circuit joining instructions straight away however an example when this does not occur is when aircraft reporting inbound from Park Ridge Water Tower during the use of runways 10L and 10R.
Ground Procedures
No taxi calls are needed when departing however aircraft are required to listen to Archer Ground on 119.90. There are run up bays located near each runway to allow planes to conduct pre-flight checks. After arriving and vacating the active runway aircraft must alert the ground controllers on 119.90 that they are on the ground frequency and not the active runway frequency by saying "Archer Ground, [Aircraft Call Sign]".
Archerfield, Queensland
Archerfield is an outer suburb of Brisbane, Australia. Archerfield is a sparsely populated suburb, with most of the land being occupied by Archerfield Airport.-Airport:...
in the south west of Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Queensland, Australia. For some time it was the primary airport in Brisbane. During World War II it was used as a Royal Australian Air Force station. Airport traffic peaked in the 1980s. In December 2010, a development plan was released for public comment which included a new parallel runway.
History
The land upon which Archerfield airfield is now situated (Portion 18, Parish of YeerongpillyYeerongpilly, Queensland
Yeerongpilly is a suburb of in Brisbane, Australia. It is 8 km south of the Brisbane central business district.Yeerongpilly is derived from the Aboriginal words "yarung" meaning sandy or gravelly or "yurong" meaning rain and "pilly" meaning gully or watercourse.Yeerongpilly grew from an area...
) was originally purchased in 1855 by Thomas Grenier, publican of the Brisbane Hotel in Russell St., South Brisbane. He purchased 640 acres (2.6 km²) of lightly timbered alluvial soil, some of the best grazing land in the district, for a price of £1,920.
Thomas Grenier called his property Oomoropilly. By April 1862 the property was almost established with most of the fences erected and a cottage with outbuildings and a stable erected. By 1865 the property had been subdivided into three farms. Thomas's son George Alexander Grenier and his wife Sarah Greenwood lived on the middle farm where they had been since 1863. Tom and his wife Mary Ann lived in the homestead called Willows which fronted onto Mortimer Road. Franklin Grenier occupied the farm which fronted onto Mortimer and Beatty Roads, and William Leichhardt Grenier ran the farm called Stoneleigh which had a long frontage onto Oxley Creek.
Thomas Grenier died in 1877 and was buried at the cemetery on his property. It was known as Oxley Cemetery at that time. This is now known as Grenier's Cemetery or God's Acre
God's Acre
God's Acre is an ancient Germanic designation for a burial ground. In his poem "God's-Acre," Henry Wadsworth Longfellow attributes the term to ancient Saxons.-In Christianity:...
and it is located at the main entrance to Archerfield aerodrome. Franklin Grenier died in 1889 and his farm was bought by the Beatty family in the early 1890s. The other two farms were also sold in the early 1900s.
In 1927 Captain Lester Brain
Lester Brain
Lester Joseph Brain, AO, AFC was a pioneer Australian aviator and airline executive. Born in New South Wales, he trained with the Royal Australian Air Force before joining Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services as a pilot in 1924...
, chief flying instructor for Qantas
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
Airways, landed his DH-61 on Franklin's Farm which was located at the western side of the present aerodrome. His mission was to see if the site was suitable to become an airfield. A Civic Survey was carried out in 1928 by the Brisbane City Council and then in July 1929, part of the Oxley Ward was zoned for noxious trade as recommended in the Civic Survey and it was renamed Archerfield by the Brisbane City Council to distinguish it from the surrounding residential and farming areas.
The Government finally acquired about 300 acres (1.2 km²) of land in 1929. More land was purchased in 1930, 1936, 1942 and finally the cemetery (God's Acre) in 1946 resulting in a total area of 825 acres (3.3 km²). Two light gravel strips 5,000 feet x 500 feet were built and the aerodrome started operations.
In the 1930s Qantas moved their operations from Eagle Farm to Archerfield after the first hangars were erected at Archerfield. Ansett ANA and Trans Australia Airlines
Trans Australia Airlines
Trans Australia Airlines or TAA, was one of the two major Australian domestic airlines between its inception in 1946 and its sale to Qantas in May 1996. During that period TAA played a major part in the development of the Australian air transport industry...
both used Archerfield during the 1930s. The Queensland Aero Club, which was established in 1919, moved from Eagle Farm to Archerfield in 1931.
The Control Tower and many buildings at Archerfield were built during these busy years when Archerfield was the main airport in Brisbane. Although designed in 1936, it was not until 1941 that the Administrative building and Control Tower was finally erected at a cost of £15,000. The Control Tower on top of the Administrative building has since been dismantled.
World War II
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Archerfield became an important military airfield for the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
, United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
(USAAF), Royal Netherlands Air Force
Royal Netherlands Air Force
The Royal Netherlands Air Force , Dutch Koninklijke Luchtmacht , is the military aviation branch of the Netherlands Armed Forces. Its ancestor, the Luchtvaartafdeling of the Dutch Army was founded on 1 July 1913, with four pilots...
and Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
. The airport was home to RAAF Station Archerfield
RAAF Station Archerfield
RAAF Station Archerfield was a permanent Royal Australian Air Force station at Archerfield Airport in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, from 1939 to 1956.- 1939 - 1945 :...
from 1939 to 1956. Plaques commemorating the RAAF, USAAF
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
and Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
personnel who served in the Pacific theatre
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
can be viewed in the old administration building.
With the Japanese conquests in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and much of the Southwest Pacific in 1941 and 1942, Brisbane became both the headquarters of the USAAF Fifth Air Force
Fifth Air Force
The Fifth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan....
, as well as a major logistics and maintenance center. Personnel transports and cargo shipping from the United States arrived at Brisbane's port facilities, with aircraft being unloaded and transported to Archerfield. The Air Technical Service Command 44th Depot Repair Squadron's mission was to uncrate and prepare these aircraft for combat units assigned to Australia. In addition, the squadron was tasked to perform depot-level repair on aircraft in service throughout Australia. Aircraft processed though the depot consisted of P-38, P-39, P-40, P-47, P-70, B-25, B-26, A-20, B-18, and B-24s. The United States Army 1622d Ordnance and Supply Company (Aviation) was the main organization coordinating warehousing of spare parts, receiving cargo and shipping supplies from Brisbane.
In addition to the maintenance and logistics, during 1942 the flight echelons of USAAF groups and squadrons assigned to Australia received their aircraft at Brisbane. After a short organizational stay, they were reassigned to their operational airfields around the country. Known USAAF units assigned were:
- 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy)7th Bomb WingThe 7th Bomb Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command Twelfth Air Force. It is stationed at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, where it is also the host unit....
, (22 December 1941 – February 1942)
- B-17C/D Flying Fortress; Aircraft survivors from Philippines Campaign. Reassigned to KarachiKarachiKarachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, India.- 3rd Bombardment Group (Light), (25 February – 10 March 1942)
- A-20 Havoc; Reassigned to Charters Towers AirfieldCharters Towers AirportCharters Towers Airport is an airport located north of Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia.-World War II:During World War II, the United States Army Air Force Fifth Air Force stationed the following units at the airfield:* No...
, Qld.- 22nd Bombardment Group (Medium), (25 February – 7 March 1942)
- B-26 MarauderB-26 MarauderThe Martin B-26 Marauder was a World War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in the Pacific Theater in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe....
; Reassigned to Ipswich Afld (RAAF Station Amberly), Qld.- 38th Bombardment Group (Medium)38th Combat Support WingThe 38th Combat Support Wing is an inactive wing of the United States Air Force. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force , being inactivated on 1 May 2007 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
, (25 February – 8 March 1942; 10 June – 7 August 1942)
- 38th Bombardment Group (Medium)
- B-25 MitchellB-25 MitchellThe North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
; Reassigned to Doomben (Eagle Farm) AirportEagle Farm AirportEagle Farm Airport was a small airport located south-west of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.-History:An area located near Eagle Farm Racecourse was initially used as a landing field in 1922 and Eagle Farm Aerodrome was officially opened in 1925...
, Qld.- 16th & 17th Bombardment Squadrons (Light) (27th Bombardment Group (Light)), (10–25 March 1942)
- A-24 Dauntless; Air echelon of 27th Bomb Group originally assigned to LuzonLuzonLuzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
but airfield overrun prior to aircraft arrival in Southwest Pacific. Received aircraft at BrisbaneBrisbaneBrisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, unit reformed and reassigned to Batchelor AirfieldBatchelor AirfieldBatchelor Airfield, is an airport located south of Batchelor, Northern Territory, Australia. Currently, it has no commercial air service and is utilised by the Northern Australian Gliding Club.-History:...
, NT.
- 8th Reconnaissance Squadron (24 April – 2 May 1942)
- P-38/F-4 LightningP-38 LightningThe Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
. Unit reassigned from Melbourne to Archerfeld, then moved north to Townsville Airport, Qld. for operational service.- 374th Troop Carrier Group374th Airlift WingThe 374th Airlift Wing is a unit of the United States Air Force assigned to Fifth Air Force. It is stationed at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It is part of Pacific Air Forces ....
, (12 November–December 1942)
- 374th Troop Carrier Group
- Used various (B-18, C-39, C-49, C-56, C-60, DC-3, DC-5) aircraft providing logistics and transport duties. Reassigned to Port Moresby AirportJacksons International AirportJacksons International Airport , also known as Port Moresby Airport, is located 5 miles outside Port Moresby, in Papua New Guinea...
, New GuineaNew GuineaNew Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
.- 6th Reconnaissance Group, (27 November-10 December 1943)
- P-38/F-4 Lightning, F-7/B-24 Liberator; Unit reassigned from Sydney to Archerfeld. Reassigned to Port Moresby AirportJacksons International AirportJacksons International Airport , also known as Port Moresby Airport, is located 5 miles outside Port Moresby, in Papua New Guinea...
, New GuineaNew GuineaNew Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
.- 58th Fighter Group58th Special Operations WingThe 58th Special Operations Wing is a combat unit of the United States Air Force stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The 58 SOW is part of the Air Education and Training Command Nineteenth Air Force....
, (21 November – 28 December 1943)
- 58th Fighter Group
- P-47 ThunderboltP-47 ThunderboltRepublic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
; Unit reassigned from Sydney to Archerfeld. Reassigned to Dobodura, New GuineaNew GuineaNew Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
.
The main USAAF flying unit permanently assigned to Archerfield was the Air Transport Command
Air Transport Command
Air Transport Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its mission was to meet the urgent demand for the speedy reinforcement of the United States' military bases worldwide during World War II, using an air supply system to supplement surface transport...
21st Troop Carrier Squadron from April 1942 to August 1944. Various USAAF bombers and fighters of various types transited the airport, however, thougout the war.
Postwar Years
After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Ansett ANA and Trans Australia Airlines
Trans Australia Airlines
Trans Australia Airlines or TAA, was one of the two major Australian domestic airlines between its inception in 1946 and its sale to Qantas in May 1996. During that period TAA played a major part in the development of the Australian air transport industry...
moved their operations to Eagle Farm Airport
Eagle Farm Airport
Eagle Farm Airport was a small airport located south-west of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.-History:An area located near Eagle Farm Racecourse was initially used as a landing field in 1922 and Eagle Farm Aerodrome was officially opened in 1925...
. The improvements to Archerfield allowed it to assume its role of secondary and civil aviation
Civil aviation
Civil aviation is one of two major categories of flying, representing all non-military aviation, both private and commercial. Most of the countries in the world are members of the International Civil Aviation Organization and work together to establish common standards and recommended practices...
airport.
In 1998, the airport was leased by the Federal Airports Corporation
Federal Airports Corporation
The Federal Airports Corporation was a business enterprise of the Government of Australia responsible for the operation of major passenger airports in Australia. At the beginning of 1997 the corporation operated 22 airports and handled over 60 million passenger annually.It was established by an...
to the Archerfield Airport Corporation. Today, Archerfield is used mainly for civil aviation. It is home to the Department of Emergency Services rescue helicopter flights, No 219 Squadron of the Australian Air Force Cadets and still in their original hangar, the Royal Queensland Aero Club.
Radio Frequencies
| ATIS | 120.90 |
| Ground | 119.90 |
| Tower North | 123.60 |
| Tower South | 118.10 |
| CTAF | 118.10 |
| NDB | 419 |
| Brisbane Radar | 125.700 (Used in training areas) |
| Fuel | |
| Mobil Aviation | 128.95 |
| Shell Aviation | 128.95 |
| BP Aviation | 121.65 |
General Aviation Procedures
Tower HoursArcher Tower is only open between 0700 and 1700 hours. Outside these hours Archerfield becomes a CTAF(R) (Common Traffic Advisory Frequency). During this time the longest runway (10L) becomes the main active runway for both arrivals and departures. ATIS broadcast the phonetic letter Zulu to alert pilots that CTAF procedures are in effect.
Reporting Points
Archerfield has four inbound reporting points. These are Goodna from the west, Park Ridge Water Tower from the south, Target from the east and TV Towers from the north.
Aircraft reporting inbound are usually given circuit joining instructions straight away however an example when this does not occur is when aircraft reporting inbound from Park Ridge Water Tower during the use of runways 10L and 10R.
| Format | Example |
|---|---|
| Tower | Archer Tower |
| [Aircraft Type] | Cirrus |
| [Call Sign] | Oska Papa Golf |
| [Reporting Point] | Target |
| Altitude | 1,500 |
| Received [ATIS] | Received Alpha |
| Type of Call | Inbound |
Ground Procedures
No taxi calls are needed when departing however aircraft are required to listen to Archer Ground on 119.90. There are run up bays located near each runway to allow planes to conduct pre-flight checks. After arriving and vacating the active runway aircraft must alert the ground controllers on 119.90 that they are on the ground frequency and not the active runway frequency by saying "Archer Ground, [Aircraft Call Sign]".
See also
- List of airports in Australia
- United States Army Air Forces in AustraliaUnited States Army Air Forces in AustraliaDuring World War II, the United States Army Air Forces established a series of airfields in Australia for the collective defense of the country, as well as for conducting offensive operations against the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy...
(World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
)