Coominya airfield, Queensland, in Australia during WW2

COOMINYA AIRFIELD
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII
DURING WWII

Coominya airfield was a relief landing ground for Lowood airfield. After approval in 1941, the Queensland Main Roads Commission commenced work on Coominya airfield in 1942.

The approximate total cost of £11,449 included clearing, grubbing, surface formation, the preparation of a landing strip, with taxiway, dispersal strips, and hideouts in heavy timber, also fencing, draining with reinforced concrete pipes, and the construction of a half mile access road.

NAA Plan

No. 2 Dispersal Airfield at Coominya

There were two landing strips at Coominya:-

Coominya No.1 also known as RLG A-4 (Satellite to Lowood Airfield) located 1 mile SE of Coominya township and about 4 1/2 miles north of Lowood Airfield. It was an all over grassed airfield falling towards the south. There were no dispersal or hideouts available and six dummy aircraft were located on the airfield. The Brisbane Valley Branch Railway passed to the SW side of the airfield. Landings in the adjoining paddocks outside of the airfield were not practicable due to logs and other obstructions.

Coominya No.2 also known as RLG A-6. (Lowood No.2). It was located 1 mile west of Coominya township and 4 miles north of Lowood Airfield. It was located in undulating heavily timbered countryside. Gravelled taxiways were constructed to dispersal areas with nine conceal only type, hard standing surfaced hideouts suitable for medium sized bomber aircraft. 13 arch type camouflaged nailed wooden truss hideouts existed but generally had unsatisfactory access to them. Coominya No. 2 Airfield was known by the USAAF as USAF OPS3. It had a graded and consolidated gravel surface. A section of the old Coominya No. 2 was later used by a model aircraft club.

The USAAF, 36th Fighter Squadron and 80th Fighter Squadron of the 8th Fighter Group moved to Coominya No.2 Airfield from Lowood Airfield in July 1942. Camouflage work was carried out at RLG A-4 and RLG A-6 by Messrs Hornibrook to the satisfaction of Captain Harter of the US Army.

An advanced party of RAAF 11 Repair and Salvage Unit 11 RSU departed Mount Druitt on 19 November 1943 and arriving at Coominya Airfield on 26 December 1943. Squadron Leader C. R. Taylor was in charge of the unit at Coominya where they commenced training in the use of firearms, hand grenades and explosives. 11 RSU used the only building on site as their Headquarters. Before they arrived they were told that water for drinking and washing could be drawn from two local dams. The water proved to be unsuitable, and was only suitable for the local cattle. 11 RSU managed to locate an excellent well between Coominya and Lowood. 11 RSU departed Coominya Airfield on 17 January 1944 and arrived in Nadzab, New Guinea on 22 January 1944.

23 Medical Clearing Station RAAF arrived at Coominya Airfield on 11 December 1943. Their camp site was about 2 miles from the Railway Station and on the night of 14 December 1943 their camp was flattened by a fierce storm. They departed for Lae, New Guinea arriving there on 28 January 1944.

In March 2020, Christine Slinger sent me a photo of a small brass tag that her mother gave her along with some other stuff. She told Christine that this was her ”war disk”. She was a young girl during the war and lived in the Caboonbah / Mt Beppo area between Somerset Dam and Toogoolawah. Christine's father said he thought there was a secret air strip in the area and civilian children may have been issued with identification tags in case of it being targeted. The tag has her name and Caboonbah/Toogoolawah engraved on it. See photo below.

Photos:- Christine Slinger