Military Units based in the Townsville area during World War 2

At the start of September 1939, the military presence in Townsville was very minimal. The 11th Infantry Brigade had its Headquarters in Townsville and had the following battalions under its command. Only one of these, The Kennedy Regiment, was based in Townsville:-

The only other Australian Army presence in the Townsville area at that time was the 21st Heavy Battery, RAA and the 121st Heavy Battery, RAA which were both Base Units of the 1st Military District, whose Headquarters at that time were in Brisbane.

American - ARMY
The Townsville area was part of the American's Base Section 2

1st Auto Platoon, 808th Ordnance, Ordnance Section, Base Section Two	1st Interpretation Detachment	2nd Interpretation Detachment
2nd Eng. Spec. Brig. Detach., G.H.Q. - Forward Echelon, Base Section Two	2nd Field Hospital	2nd Provisional Ordnance Service Center, HQ & HQ Detachment, Ordnance Section, Base Section Two
2nd Port of Embarkation, Hq & Hq Co (less Hq Det)	3rd US Medical Supply Unit	4th Camp Hq & Camp Co., Base Section Two
8th Medical Laboratory, Medical Section, Base Section Two	9th Portable Hospital	12th Station Hospital, Base Section Two
13th Station Hospital, Base Section Two	17th Station Hospital, US Army	25th Ordnance Medium (AA) Company
33rd Surgical Hospital (2 surgical teams)	Det 37th Ord Co (MM)	41st Division, US Army
42nd Airborne Division	44th General Hospital, Base Section Two	46th Engineers
48th Quartermaster Truck Regiment	55th Ordnance Ammunition Company	59th Ordnance Ammunition Company
62nd Chemical Company (Depot), Chemical Warfare Section, Base Section Two	85th Station Hospital, Base Section Two (Majors Creek)	86th Quartermaster Battalion (LM), Co A
91st Engineers	92nd Quartermaster Company Railhead (Cld)	94th CA AA Regt (SM) less 2 Dets & 1 Btry, 40th CA Brig
96th Engineers Sep Battalion (Cld) Coys A & C	119th Ordnance MM Company, Ordnance Section, Base Section Two	126 Signal Radio Intelligence Company
135th Medical Regiment Hq Detachment 2nd Ban, Co E	166th AAA Gun Bn.	179th Ordnance MM Company, Ordnance Section, Base Section Two
191st Ordnance Depot Company, Ordnance Section, Base Section Two	201st Signal Depot Company, Signal Section, Base Section Two	202nd Sig Depot Co, Detachment
	208th Anti Aircraft Battalion	301st Quartermaster Company (Rhd.), Quartermaster Section, Base Section Two
360th Quartermaster Company (Composite) (MSTR), Quartermaster Section, Base Section Two	360th Quartermaster Company (Composite) - Bakery Section, Quartermaster Section, Base Section Two	440th Signal Battalion
411th Engineer Base Shop Battalion, Coy "C" (Camped at Camp Cluden)	532nd Engineer Amphibian Regiment, 2nd Engineer Amphibian Brigade	562nd Engineer Boat Maintenance Company, 2nd Engineer Amphibian Brigade
577th Ordnance Ammunition Company	615th Ordnance Ammunition Company, Ordnance Section, Base Section Two	623rd Ordnance Ammunition Company, Ordnance Section, Base Section Two (at Kangaroo Ordnance Depot)
630th Ordnance Company (at Kangaroo Ordnance Depot)	694th Signal Reptg Co (AWS) (less 1 Plat)	738th Military Police Battalion
800th Military Police Battalion, Base Section Two	3528th Quartermaster Truck Company, Quartermaster Section, Base Section Two	Adjutant General's Section, Base Section Two
Administrative Section, Quartermaster Section, Base Section Two	Air Section, Base Section Two	Air Section, Base Port Command, Base Section Two
American Red Cross (ARC), G.H.Q. - Forward Echelon, Base Section Two	Ambulance Service, Base Section Two	Ammunition Division, Ordnance Section, Base Section Two
Army Exchange Service Section, Base Section Two	Army Post Office (APO 922), Base Section Two	Base Area Command, No1, Base Section Two
Base Command Detachment D	Base Motor Command, Base Section Two	Base Port Command, Base Section Two
Base Service Command, Base Section Two	Billeting Section, Base Section Two	Cannon Company, 162nd Infantry, 41st Division
Censor, Base Section Two	Chaplain's Section, Base Section Two	Chemical Warfare Section, Base Section Two
Civilian Payroll & Personnel Section, Quartermaster Section, Base Section Two	Commandant Section, Base Section Two	Command Section, Base Section Two
Depot Supply Section, Quartermaster Section, Base Section Two	Detachment 832nd Signal Service Company, Signal Section, Base Section Two (attached to 202nd Sig Dep Co, Det)	Directorate of Air Transport, G.H.Q. - Forward Echelon, Base Section Two
Engineer Section, Base Section Two	Finance Section, Base Section Two	Fire Marshall Section, Base Section Two
Gas and Oil Section, Quartermaster Section, Base Section Two	G.H.Q. - Forward Echelon, Base Section Two	Graves Registration Section, Quartermaster Section, Base Section Two
Headquarters Company, Base Section Two	Headquarters Detachment, Base Section No. 2	Inspector General's Section, Base Section Two
Insurance Section, Base Section Two	Intelligence Section, Base Section Two	Judge Advocate's Section, Base Section Two
Maintenance Division, Ordnance Section, Base Section Two	Medical Section, Base Section Two	Ordnance Section, Base Section Two
Trial Judge Advocate, Base Section Two	Personnel Section, Base Section Two	Port Detachment A, Base Section Two
Port Division, Ordnance Section, Base Section Two	Property Section, Quartermaster Section, Base Section Two	Purchasing and Contract Section, Quartermaster Section, Base Section Two
Quartermaster Detachment, Base Section Two	Quartermaster Remount Depot, Quartermaster Section, Base Section Two (Is this the Remount Depot at Rocky Springs?)	Quartermaster Section, Base Section Two
Provosts Marshal's Section, Base Section Two	Rail Section, Base Port Command, Base Section Two	Regulating System (Section), G.H.Q. - Forward Echelon, Base Section Two
Remount Depot Rocky Springs	Sales (Commissary) Section, Quartermaster Section, Base Section Two	Radio Section, Signal Section, Base Section Two
Safehand Courier Service, Signal Section, Base Section Two	Salvage & Reclamation Section, Quartermaster Section, Base Section Two	Ship & Gun Crew Command No. 1, Base Port Command, Base Section Two
Signal Section, Base Section Two	Special Service Section, Base Section Two	Subsistence Section, Quartermaster Section, Base Section Two
Supply Division, Base Section Two	Supply Division, Ordnance Section, Base Section Two	Telephone Section, Signal Section, Base Section Two
Teletype Section, Signal Section, Base Section Two	"The Native Labour Company"	Traffic Division, Base Port Command, Base Section Two
US Army Section Base Two Signal Section	US Army Ordnance Depot at Kurukan	US Base 2 Engineers
US Base 2 Intelligence Section	US Coast Guard, G.H.Q. - Forward Echelon, Base Section Two	US Government Billets, G.H.Q. - Forward Echelon, Base Section Two
US Navy Headquarters, G.H.Q. - Forward Echelon, Base Section Two	US Warshipping Administration, G.H.Q. - Forward Echelon, Base Section Two	War Bond Section, Base Section Two
Water Division, Base Port Command, Base Section Two

1st Fighter Control Squadron	2nd Air Service Squadron	No. 2 US Air Command
2nd Mat Sq, 35th AB Gp	3rd Bombardment Group - HQ Squadron - 8th Squadron - 13th Squadron - 89th Squadron - 90th Squadron - 46 Ordinance Coy. - 2 Chemical Coy.	3rd Emergency Rescue Squadron
4th Air Depot Group, United States Air Depot - H.Q. - H.Q. Squadron 4th ADG - 4th ADG Repair Squadron - 83rd Repair Squadron - 4th ADG Supply Squadron - 911th Signal Coy. Dept. Aviation - 1125th Military Police Coy. Depot Aviation	4th Airdrome Squadron	5th Air Service Area Command - 8th Service Squadron - 760th Chemical Dept. Coy. - 1909th Ordnance Coy.
5th Air Force Distributing Authority, Garbutt Field & Project Two Area	5th Air Force Service Command, Depot No. 2, United States Air Depot - Construction Section - Engineering Section - Aircraft Section - Engine Overhaul Section - Machine Shop Section	8th Fighter (Pursuit) Group - Headquarters - 35th Fighter Squadron - 36th Fighter Squadron - 80th Fighter Squadron - 683 Ordinance Coy., 2 & 3 Platoon
8th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Photo Reconnaissance Group	8th Service Group	8th Service Squadron, United States Air Depot
10th Service Squadron, 7th Service Group, IV Air Service Area Command, Fifth Air Force	12th Supply Squadron	12th Postal Regulating Section, Garbutt Field
12th Air Depot Group, US Air Depot - HQ - HQ Squadron 12th ADG - 317th Repair Squadron - 12th ADG Supply Squadron - 1699th Ordnance MM Company (Aviation) - 2483rd Truck Coy. (Aviation)	15th Air Depot Group - HQ - 15th Repair Squadron - 29th Repair Squadron - 15th Supply Squadron - 194th Ordnance Dep. Coy. - 1558th Ordnance Depot Coy. - 1702nd Ordnance Medium Maintenance ( Aviation) - 2486th Q.M. Truck Coy. (Aviation)	15th Weather Squadron, Weather Station, Base Operations (Garbutt), Garbutt Field & Project Two Area
19th Bomb Group - 28th Squadron - 40th Recon. Squadron - 30th Squadron - 93rd Squadron - 435th Squadron	20th Combat Mapping Squadron	22nd Bombardment Group - HQ Squadron - 2nd Squadron - 18th Recce Squadron - 19th Squadron - 33rd Squadron - 408 Squadron - 46 Ordinance Coy., 3 Platoon - 453 Ordinance Coy. (Aviation), 2nd & 3rd Platoon - 481st Ordinance Coy, (Aviation), 3rd Platoon - 484 Ordinance Coy. - 1 Chemical Coy Detachment
26th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron	27th Air Dept Squadron	27th Bombardment Group - 16th Squadron - 17th Squadron - 91st Squadron
33rd Fighter Control Squadron	35th Fighter (Pursuit) Group - 39th Fighter Squadron - 40th Fighter Squadron - 41st Fighter Squadron - 679 Ordinance Co Aviation, 1 & 2 Platoon	36th Air Base Group
36th Photo Reconnaissance Group	38th Medium Bomb Group - 69th Squadron - 70th Squadron - 71st Squadron - 405th Squadron	43rd Heavy Bomb Group - 63rd Squadron - 64th Squadron - 65th Squadron - 403rd Squadron
43 Service Squadron	45th Service Group - HQ - HQ Squadron 45th Service Group - 1058th Signal Company - 1158th Q.M. Coy. Service Group Aviation	47th/479th Air Service Squadron
49th Air Depot Group	49th Air Service Squadron	49th Fighter Group 7th & 8th Pursuit Squadrons
56th Troop Carrier Group	58th Service Group	58th Fighter Group
65th Troop Carrier Group	66th Troop Carrier Group	69th Fighter Group
79th Airdrome Squadron	90th Heavy Bomb Group - 319th Squadron - 320th Squadron - 321st Squadron - 400th Squadron	310th Fighter Squadron
311th Fighter Squadron	312th Bomb Group	317th Transport Group - 39th Troop Carrier Squadron - 40th Troop Carrier Squadron - 41st Troop Carrier Squadron - 46th Troop Carrier Squadron
318th Troop Carrier Squadron	336th Service Squadron	345th Bombardment Group - 498th Bomb Squadron - 499th Bomb Squadron - 500th Bomb Squadron - 501st Bomb Squadron
374th Service Squadron, United States Air Depot	374th Troop Carrier Group, Garbutt Field & Project Two Area - 6th Troop Carrier Squadron - 21st Troop Carrier Squadron - 22nd Troop Carrier Squadron - 33rd Troop Carrier Squadron	375th Troop Carrier Group
380th Bomb Group	417th Bomb Group	421st Night Fighter Group
464th Ordnance Company	475th Fighter Group - 431st Squadron - 432nd Squadron - 433rd Squadron	596th Signal Aircraft & Warning Battalion, Company "A"
679th Ordnance Company	703rd Ordnance Company	842nd Engineer Aviation Battalion
1002nd Ordnance Company	1356th? Ordnance Company	1909th Ordnance Ammunition Company, Garbutt Field & Project Two Area
Advanced Echelon, Fifth Air Force Service Command, United States Air Depot	Air Transport Command, Headquarters Station 25 - Pacific Wing, Garbutt Field & Project Two Area	Atchd Det 1st Chem Co (Avn) Serv
Base Operations (Garbutt), Garbutt Field & Project Two Area	Billeting Office - Transient Camp, Garbutt Field & Project Two Area	Command Section, Garbutt Field & Project Two Area
Detachment 194th Ordnance Company, 1909th Ordnance Ammunition Company, Garbutt Field & Project Two Area	Directorate of Air Transport	Finance Section, United States Air Depot
Flight Test Section and Operations, United States Air Depot	Fire Marshal, United States Air Depot	Headquarters V Fighter Command
Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron 314th? Composite? Wing	Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron 36th Air Base Group	Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron, Advanced Echelon, Fifth Air Force Service Command, United States Air Depot
Military Police, United States Air Depot	Ordnance Section, United States Air Depot	Oxygen Supply Section, United States Air Depot
Regional Control HQ 15th Weather Region, Garbutt Field & Project Two Area	Signal Section, United States Air Depot	Supply Section, United States Air Depot
Transportation Corps, Air Division, Garbutt Field & Project Two Area	USAAF Weather Service, SWPA, Garbutt Field & Project Two Area	Utilities Section, United States Air Depot

BATTALION	NAME	LOCATION
26th Battalion	The Logan & Albert Regiment	Hughenden
31st Battalion	The Kennedy Regiment	Townsville
42nd Battalion	The Capricornia Regiment	Rockhampton
51st Battalion	The Far North QLD Regiment	Cairns

HMAS Magnetic	RAN Wireless Station Stanton Hill	The Magnetic Battery (Magnetic Island Forts)
RAN Station 22 Port War Signal Station Townsville

2/14th Australian General Hospital	2nd Auxiliary Horse Transport Company, Australian Army Service Corps	2nd Australian Cavalry Regiment
2/14th Australian Infantry Battalion	5th Division HQ	5th Field Regiment - 5th Division
7th Field Ambulance	7th Brigade HQ	7 Heavy Battery
8th Australian Pigeon Section Australian Corps of Signals Pigeon Service	9th Battalion - 7th Brigade	9th Aust Advanced Workshops of the AEME
11th Field Ambulance	11th Field Company, RAE	11th Field Regiment - 5th Division
11th Infantry Brigade Headquarters Denham St, then Church St, then Nome	15th Battalion - 29th Brigade	16th Field Park Coy - RAE 5th Division
16 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery	17th Field Regiment - 5th Division - 5th Division	19th Field Ambulance
21st Heavy Battery, RAA of 1st Military District	24th Field Park Coy - RAE 5th Division	25th Battalion - 7th Brigade
26th Battalion - 11th Brigade	31st Battalion - 11th Brigade	36th Battalion
39th Battalion	42nd Battalion - 29th Brigade	43rd Landing Craft Company 3rd Water Transport Group (Oonoonba)
51st Battalion - 11th Brigade	52 Anti-aircraft Searchlight Battery (52 AASL Coy)	55 Field Park Coy - RAE 5th Division
57th Battery 17th Field Regiment, 5th Division	61st Battalion - 7th Brigade	73 AASL Coy
75 Anti-aircraft Searchlight Battery (75 AASL)	No. 79 Anti- Aircraft Searchlight Battery (79 AASL Coy)	101st Anti-tank Regiment
114 Light Anti Aircraft Artillery Regiment, 165 Battery, 607 Troop	116 AGH	121st Heavy Battery, RAA of 1st Military District
127th Army Transport Unit	Army Signals Communications Centre	Australian Light Horse Brigade camped at Experimental Station Oonoonba
Hirings Section, No. 1 L of C

No. 1 Wireless Unit	No. 1 Base Personnel Staff Office	No. 1 Reserve Personnel Pool
No. 2 Radio Installation & Maintenance Unit	No. 3 Fighter Sector HQ	No. 3 Divisional Works Office
No. 3 Shipping and Stores Unit	No. 3 Medical Receiving Station	3 Repair & Salvage Unit at Aitkenvale
No. 3 Replenishing Centre	No. 4 Voluntary Air Air Observers Corps	No. 5 Base Personnel Staff Office
No. 5 Medical Receiving Station	5 Communications Unit	No. 6 Medical Convalescent Unit
6 Central Recovery Unit at Stuart (moved from Breddan)	6 Transportation and Movements Office RAAF	7 Squadron
8 Squadron	No. 8 Stores Depot	10 Signals Unit (Rear Echelon)
No. 11 Stores Depot	No. 12 Repair and Salvage Unit	12 Signals Unit
15 Squadron	19 Replenishment Centre	20 Signals Unit RAAF
No. 20 Medical Clearing Station	22 Squadron	No. 22 (Base) Wing
No 23 Operational Base Unit	24 Squadron	29 Air Stores Park
30 Squadron	33 Squadron	35 Squadron
36 Squadron	40 Squadron	41 Squadron
No. 42 Radar Wing	75 Squadron	76 Squadron
80 Squadron	82 Squadron	84 Squadron
86 Squadron	100 Squadron	No. 104 RDF Station
HF/DF Station Garbutt	Air Defence Headquarters	Central Sick Quarters
Townsville Bomb Disposal Unit RAAF	Northern Area Headquarters (North-Eastern Area HQ)	RAAF Postal Unit
RAAF Service Police Unit	W/T Station Townsville

Naval Task Force, Southern Bomber Command (ex 88th Reconnaisance Squadron, 7th Bomb Group)	55th Battalion Seabees (Palm Island US Naval Air Station)	60th Battalion Seabees
84th Battalion Seabees	"B" Company 91st Battalion Seabees (Palm Island US Naval Air Station)	Field Torpedo Unit No. 28
US Naval Hospital, Rose Bay (now Rowes Bay)	USN Patrol Squadron VP-11 (Palm Island US Naval Air Station)	Patrol Squadron VP-101, Patrol Wing 10 (US Navy) (Palm Island US Naval Air Station)