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![]() Doug Tilley Nov 2008 |
Location Fenton Field is located near Brocks Creek in the Northern Territory of Australia. Also known as Fenton Airfield or Fenton Drome. Also spelled Fentons (sic) in some sources. Known to the Japanese as "Brocks Creek Airfield" due to the proximity to Brocks Creek. To the north is the Stuart Highway and rougly 100 kilometers beyond is Darwin. Construction During late 1942 built by Australian with a single sealed runway. Named "Fenton Field" after Australian flying doctor Clyde C. Fenton. By early 1943 the airfield was improved and expanded. Wartime History During the Pacific War, used by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) primarily for B-24 Liberators. During early 1943, suffered air raids by Japanese bombers. Jim Wright, The Flying Circus, page 95 adds: "Aussie construction crews had finished the broad airstrip, with thirty-five revetments, semicircular patches of paving sticking out from four paved lanes that connected with the main runway." Allied units based at Fenton Airfield U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) 43rd BG, 64rd BS (B-17) Iron Range arrives October 12, 1942–August 2, 1942 Daly Waters 90th BG, 319th BS (B-24 detachment) Iron Range arrives November 1942 380th BG, HQ USA arrives April 28, 1943–August 9, 1944 departs Darwin 380th BG, 528th BS (B-24) USA April 28, 1943 - Aug 20, 1944 departs Darwin 380th BG, 530th BS (B-24) USA April 28, 1943 - Aug 9, 1944 departs Darwin Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) 82nd Wing No. 21 Squadron (B-24) No. 23 Squadron (B-24) No. 24 Squadron (B-24) Japanese missions against Fenton April, 1943–July 6, 1943 Today Disused today, the main runway is still clear and useable by light aircraft. CW-22 Falcon Destroyed June 30, 1943 during Japanese air raid B-24D "Contrary Mary" 41-23764 Destroyed June 30, 1943 during Japanese air raid B-24D Liberator 42-40504 Tail and fuselage section recovered 1970 recovered at Australian Aviation Heritage Centre B-24D "Snafu" 42-40513 Damage September 15, 1943, fuselage recovered to Australian Aviation Heritage Centre References 380th BG Association Our Amazing Trip to Fenton by Bill Shek The Best in the Southwest: The 380th Bomb Group in World War II (1995) page 44 The Flying Circus (2005) page 98 Darwin's Air War (2011) page 114 Contribute
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