Caversham Airfield, also known as Middle Swan Airfield was an airfield constructed at Caversham

Caversham, Western Australia

Caversham is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located in the City of Swan....

, Western Australia

Western Australia

Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...

 during World War II

World 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...

 as a parent aerodrome for the United States Fleet Air Arm of the 7th Fleet.
The airfield had a triangle of three landing strips.

Middle Swan was the parent airfield with the following satellite airfields:-

• Beverley
• Bindoon
• Gin Gin North
• Mooliabeenee

The United States Army Air Corps

United States Army Air Corps

The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...

 also utilised the airfield during World War II.

It was also a gliding club location after the war.

Motor racing circuit

The airfield was later utilised as a motor racing circuit, hosting its first event in 1946. It became Western Australia's premier motor racing venue, hosting the Australian Grand Prix

Australian Grand Prix

The Australian Grand Prix is a motor race held annually and is held to be the pinnacle of motor racing in Australia. The Grand Prix is the oldest surviving motor racing competition held in Australia having been held 76 times since it was first run at Phillip Island in 1928. Since 1985 the race has...

 in 1957

1957 Australian Grand Prix

The 1957 Australian Grand Prix was a Formula Libre motor race held at Caversham Circuit, Western Australia on 4 March 1957. The race had 24 starters....

 and 1962

1962 Australian Grand Prix

The 1962 Australian Grand Prix was a Formula Libre motor race held at Caversham in Western Australia on November 18, 1962. It was the twenty seventh Australian Grand Prix and the sixth and final race in the 1962 Australian Drivers' Championship.The race, held at the former United States Navy air...

 and the Six Hour Le Mans

Six Hour Le Mans

The Six Hour Le Mans was an endurance motor race for sports cars and touring cars held in Western Australia from 1955 to 1972. Initially run at the Caversham Airfield circuit, the event was moved, along with all other WA circuit racing, to the then new Wanneroo Park Raceway in...

 endurance race from 1955 to 1968. Racing activities ceased when the airfield was re-activated as a military facility and Western Australian racing shifted to Wanneroo Raceway

Barbagallo Raceway

Barbagallo Raceway is a motorsport circuit located in Wanneroo, approximately north of Perth in Western Australia.The circuit was originally known as Wanneroo Park and the first race meet took place in March 1969. Initially the major race per year was a 6 hour Le Mans style race for sedans and...

in 1969.

Further information

• Lance Muir, Richard Duckworth, N. Hyde, (1946?) Flight without power - the art in Australia [videorecording]1 videocassette (VHS) (12 min., 2 sec.) : si., col. with b&w sequences ; 1/2 in. PAL format [State Film Archives collection] Showing the activities of gliding clubs in the various Australian states. Shows local enthusiast, Ric New, and activities at the bases of operations at Lake Pinjar (Pinjar Soaring Club), West Subiaco (WA Flying Club) and Caversham (Perth Gliding Club) in 1941 and 1946. WA segment is appr. 3 mins.