HIGGINS FIELD, QLD
DURING WW2
ALSO KNOWN AS RED ISLAND POINT AIRFIELD
OR
RED POINT AIRFIELD OR JACK JACKY AIRFIELD AND
NOW KNOWN AS BAMAGA AIRFIELD OR INGANOO AIRFIELD
Higgins Field, previously known as Jacky Jacky and sometimes called Red Point or Red Island Point airfield, was located near the tip of Cape York Peninsula in far north Queensland. It is located about 8 kms south of the town of Bamaga in far north Queensland.
Plan of Higgins Field
Photo: - Michael Musumeci
Bamaga Airfield today
Photo: - Michael Musumeci
Bamaga Airfield today
On 3 June 1943, Lieutenant General Kenney renamed it Higgins Field in honour of Flight Lieutenant Brian Hartley Higgins, 400620, RAAF, who was killed on air operations on 25 May 1943.
Photo:- via Howard Hamilton Quick
Members of the 13th Garrison
Battalion at Jacky Jacky in April 1943
From left to right:- Edwyn Rhys Gronow, Robert Hamilton Quick,
S. (?) Anderson, Robert Beveridge, Thomas Henry Wilson, (?) Alchen"
Ron Moon told me that there are the remains of a Beaufort bomber not far from the airfield at Bamaga (Higgins field). You can clearly see the rear centre gun enclosure.
In mid October 1944, three C-47's and four air crews from 34 Squadron RAAF were detached from Parafield in South Australia to Higgins Field for special operations to Hollandia, Noemfoor, Tadji and other locations. They relocated to Garbutt airfield in early November 1944 and the relocated back to Parafield on 13 November 1944.
C-47 Dakota and Memorial at Bamaga on 2 July 2003
Daniel Leahy believes the above wreck is a C-49 (DC-3) VH-CXD, which he believes was USAAF #44-83228 which crashed at Higgins Field on 5 May 1942 killing six on board.
Photo: Peter Schinkel
C-47 Dakota and Memorial at Bamaga on 2 July 2003
Photo: Peter Schink
Remains of a Beaufort at Bamaga, 2 July 2003
Photo: Peter Schink
Remains of a Beaufort at Bamaga, 2 July 2003
Photo: Peter Schink
Rusted remains of fuel drums at Bamaga, 2 July 2003
Photo: Peter Schink
Rusted remains of fuel drums at Bamaga, 2 July 2003
In May 2002 the Bamaga Island Council was endeavouring to establish a Historical centre and Chris Foord, CEO of the Bamaga Island Council was seeking information regarding Higgins field, including early photos.
Photo:- Michael Musumeci
Memorial in the township of Bamaga
Photo:- Michael Musumeci
Memorial in the township of Bamaga
Photo:- Michael Musumeci
Park containing the two memorials in Bamaga
Photo:- Michael Musumeci
Gun on display in the same park
MILITARY UNITS BASED IN HIGGINS FIELD AREA DURING WW2
| 1 Repair & Salvage Unit RAAF (1RSU) | 16 Jun 1943 to 18 Jun 1944 |
| 5 Repair & Salvage Unit RAAF (5RSU) | May 1944 to Mar 1945 |
| 7 Squadron RAAF | 26 Mar 1944 to 26 Oct 1944 |
| 23 Squadron RAAF | |
| 33 OBU | 13 Oct 1943 to 31 Jul 1946 |
| 34 Squadron RAAF | mid Oct 1944 to early Nov 1944 |
| No. 52 Radar Station RAAF (Muttee Head) | 29 Mar 1943 to 29 Sep 1945 |
| 105th Light Field Ambulance |
MILITARY AIRCRAFT CRASHES AT HIGGINS FIELD DURING WW2 YEARS
| DATE | LOCATION | SERVICE | AIRCRAFT | SERIAL NO. |
| 5 May 42 | Higgins Field | USAAF | C-49 (DC-3) | #44-83228, 6 killed |
| 1 May 44 | Higgins Field | RAAF | Beaufort | A9-336 |
| 1 May 44 | Higgins Field | RAAF | Vultee Vengeance | A27-85 |
| 4 May 44 | Higgins Field | RAAF | Vultee Vengeance | ?, 2 killed |
| 10 Jun 44 | Higgins Field | RAAF | Beaufort | A9-294 |
| 13 Jun 44 | In the sea in Higgins Field area | RAAF | Beaufort | A9-220 |
| 2 Jul 44 | near Higgins Field | RAAF | Beaufort | A9-377 |
| 22 Aug 44 | in the sea, vicinity of Higgins airfield? | RAAF | Norseman | A71-1 |
| abt Apr 45 | Jacky Jacky (Higgins) | RAAF | Boomerang | A46-235 |
| 10 Oct 45 | Higgins Field | RAAF | Beaufort | A9-190 |
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I'd like to thank Michael Musumeci, Dennis Whiley, Daniel Leahy and Peter Schinkel for their assistance with this home page.
I'd also like to thank Ron Moon of Kakirra Adventure Publications, PO Box 1112, Pearcedale, Vic 3912 for their assistance with this home page. Ron has produced an excellent guide book on Cape York (www.guidebooks.com.au).
I'd like to thank Sue Dickinson, the grand daughter of Robert Hamilton Quick of the 13th Garrison Battalion.
REFERENCE BOOKS
"Queensland Airfields WW2 - 50 Years
on"
by Roger Marks
Can anyone help me with more information?
"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products
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© Peter Dunn 2015 |
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This page first produced 17 August 2002
This page last updated 13 January 2020
