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 19th BG August 1942  USAAF Nov 7, 1942  Richard Rudd 2000 |
Location Lat 17° 4' 9S Long 145° 25' 9E Mareeba Airfield is located at an elevation of 1,560' above sea level to the south of Mareeba on the Atherton Plateau near the Barron River in northern Queensland in Australia. Also known as "Mareeba Field" or "Hoevet Field". Construction Two runways were built at this location with an extensive taxiway between both strips and dispersal area around the runways. Also, anti-aircraft gun pits and air raid shelters were constructed but never used. Naming Honors Known as "Hovett Field" in honor of Major Dean C. "Pinky" Hoevet who was killed piloting B-17E 41-2434 on August 16, 1942. Wartime History On October 15, 1942 an award ceremony was held at Mareeba Airfield for members of the 19th Bombardment Group. In attendance was Major General George C. Kenney (C.O., 5th Air Force), Brigadier General Kenneth N. Walker (Commanding General, 5th Bomber Command) and Lt Colonel Richard H. Carmichael (C.O. 19th Bombardment Group). The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) was awarded to airmen who flew fifty missions or performed “heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight”. Parked in the background were the group’s B-17E Flying Fortresses. Designated U.S. Army Post Office APO 922. American units based at Mareeba 19th BG, 93rd BS (B-17) Longreach July 23, 42 - Oct 25, 43 USA 19th BG, 28th BS (B-17) Longreach July 24, 42 - Oct 25, 43 USA 19th BG, 30th BS (B-17) Longreach July 24, 42 - Oct 25, 43 USA 19th BG, HQ (B-17) Longreach July 24, 1942 - Oct 23, 1943 USA 43rd BG, 63th BS (B-17) Torrens Creek Aug 20, 1942 - Jan 20, 43 7-Mile 7th BG, 28th BS (B-17) May - November 18, 1942 USA 43rd BG, 65th BS (B-17) Iron Range Nov 7, 42 - Jan 20, 43 7-Mile 43rd BG, 64th BS (B-17) Iron Range Nov 8, 42 - Jan 20, 43 7-Mile 43rd BG, 403rd BS (B-17, B-24) Turnbull Jan 21, 43 - May 10, 43 7-Mile 8th FG, 36th FS (P-39) Turnbull Feb 22 - May 22, 1943 to Port Moresby 8th FG, 80th FS (P-39, P38) Turnbull late January 1943 and 3-Mile Feb 6 - March 21, 1943 to 3-Mile 8th FG, 35th FS (P-39) Milne Bay Feb 24 - May 10, 1943 Port Moresby 8th FG, HQ (P-39) Milne Bay February 24 - May 16, 1943 Port Moresby B-17E "The Daylight Ltd" 41-2621 Pilot Casper crashed August 26, 1942 B-17F "Miss Carriage" 41-24428 Pilot Humrichouse crashed September 6, 1942 B-17F "Hoomalimali" 41-24391 Pilot Henson exploded on take off September 14, 1942 B-17E "Frank Buck" 41-2659 Scrapped at Mareeba July 27, 1943 B-17E Flying Fortress 41-9012 Crashed November 5, 1942, scrapped at Mareeba July 27, 1943 Today One of the two runways is still in use today as a small airport known as Mareeba Airport. The single runway is oriented 28/10 measures 4,938' x 98' surfaced with asphalt. Airport codes: ICAO: YMBA IATA: MRG. The second runway was developed into a mangrove farm area. Around the former airfield are several air raid shelters and the outlines of gun pits. Mareeba Memorial Memorial at the airfield to USAAF and RAAF air crews based here during the war. North Queensland Warbirds Located at the airfield, restoration and storage hanger and museum References General Kenney Reports page 122 Kenneth N. Walker - Photos - October 15, 1942 Award Ceremony Fight For Survival page 13 description of Mareeba Echoes From an Eagle page 31 description of Mareeba Contribute
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