TORRENS CREEK AIRFIELD
TORRENS CREEK, QLD
DURING WWII

Torrens Creek airfield (Landing Ground No. 950) was built on Crown Land during WWII.

The 46th Engineers carried out the following improvements to the Torrens Creek Airfield during WWII for a total cost of $247,970:19 ($US):-

1. Constructed three 7,000 feet strips, 2 gravel paved, and the other landing mat (Marston Matting)
2. 10,000 feet clearing by 500 feet wide
3. Installed two 25,000 gallon underground gasoline tanks

Company "A" of the 46th Engineer General Service Regiment was sent to Torrens Creek on 22 March 1942 arriving at Torrens Creek on 25 March 1942. "B" Company arrived on site on 4 April 1942 followed by "C" Company on 27 April 1942. The 46th Engineers left Torrens Creek on 10 June 1942 headed for Iron Range.

Torrens Creek Airfield

Location of Torrens Creek Airfield

The 63rd Bomb Squadron of the 43rd Bomb Group arrived at Torrens Creek on 3 August 1942. The ground echelon of the 403rd Bomb Squadron of the 43rd Bomb Group arrived by train at Torrens creek on 27 August 1942. B-17's with full combat crews of the 63rd Bomb Squadron had arrived at Torrens Creek airfield on 14 August 1942.

The 63rd Bomb Squadron left Torrens Creek on 20 August 1942 and moved to Mareeba Airfield in far north Queensland.

The 65thd Bomb Squadron of the 43rd Bomb Group arrived at Torrens Creek on 15 August 1942 and moved to Iron Range Airfield in far north Queensland on 13 October 1942.

The 403rd Bomb Squadron left Torrens Creek on 17 October 1942 and moved to Iron Range Airfield in far north Queensland.

The Torrens Creek Ordnance Ammunition Depot was located about 10 kms south of the airfield which was later relocated to the Kangaroo Ordnance Depot at Kurukan north of Townsville in 1943.

Torrens Creek airfield was abandoned by mid 1944. A 12 June 1944 survey of unoccupied service buildings indicated that:-

    "All buildings have been demolished and removed by USAFIA. Steel matting strip has also been removed."

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Peter Johnston and Bob Livingstone for their assistance in identifying the B-24 Liberator "Wolf" in the above photograph.

REFERENCES

Queensland Airfields - 50 Years On
by Roger R. Marks

World War II Combat Squadrons of the United States Air force
Edited by Maurer Maurer

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 15 January 2010

This page last updated 13 January 2020