16th Heavy Anti-aircraft Battery in Australia during WWII

16TH HEAVY ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERY
LATER 16TH HEAVY ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERY (STATIC)
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII

1 Sergeant and 118 Ordinary Ranks of the 16 Heavy Anti-aircraft Battery moved from Brisbane to Townsville by train from Roma Street Railway Station on Sunday 8 March 1942 under the watchful eye of Captain Anthony Louis Steindl (QX53200 & Q49512), RAA (M). The rain was scheduled to leave Roma Street at 2020 hours. The 11th Infantry Brigade arranged for their reception and subsequent movement once they arrived in Townsville.

Battery Headquarters 16 Australian Heavy Anti-aircraft Battery was established on the western side of Jimmy's Lookout adjacent to the Belgian Gardens Cemetery not far from Garbutt Airfield. The Queensland Main Roads Commission began excavating for the Battery Command Post at Jimmy's Lookout on 9 January 1942.

Battery Command Post at 16 HAA Battery
Headquarters on western side of Jimmy's Lookout

On 1 April 1942, No. 1 Station at Pallarenda was renamed to "X" Station and No. 2 Station at Mount St. John was renamed to "Y" Station.

At 1000 hours on 2 April 1042 a report was received of a number of enemy aircraft sighted off Cairns heading south. Both Stations stood to with guns ready for action. The "All Clear" was given at 1145 hours.

At 2340 hours on 3 April 1942, the General Alarm was raised at both Stations. A report was received of "Unidentified aircraft over Victoria Hill". Both Stations stood to ready for action. The "All Clear" was given at 0140 hours on 4 April 1942.

The War Diary for 16 A.A. Battery stated on 4 April 1942 that "X Section (Pallarenda No. 1 Station) was fully manned.

At 1500 hours on 5 April 1942, both Stations were alerted by 3 FSHQ that "Enemy planes sighted over Cooktown heading south." 3 FSHQ advised that the unidentified aircraft were being tracked by S.C.R (Radar).

At 0945 hours on 6 April 1942, a report was received of unidentified aircraft over Charters Towers heading east. The "All Clear" was given at 1030 hours. Both Stations had been alerted and stood to ready for action.

At 0840 hours on 7 April 1942, 3 FSHQ reported unidentified aircraft over Port Douglas. The "All Clear" was given at 0900 hours.

At 0120 hours on 8 April 1942, 3 FSHQ reported enemy aircraft 50 miles south of Port Moresby. At 0200 hours 3 FSHQ reported enemy aircraft over Cairns. Both Stations were alerted and stood to ready for action. The "All Clear" signal was given at 0330 hours.

3 FSHQ reported unidentified aircraft over Tully at 0940 hours on 9 April 1942. 3 FSHQ reported "All Clear" signal at 1025 hours.

At 0925 hours on 10 April 1942, 3 FSHQ reported unidentified aircraft over Normanton, heading east. At 1015 hours, 3 FSHQ reported several unidentified aircraft, NE of Palm Island. Both Stations stood to their guns, ready for action. 3 FSHQ reported the "All Clear" at 1030 hours.

At 1205 hours on 11 April 1942, 3 FSHQ reported a large number of unidentified aircraft sighted over Bourketown flying south. 3 FSHQ then reported "All Clear". At 1900 hours on 11 April 1942, 3 FSHQ reported three aircraft off Magnetic Island, NNE 3,000 to 4,000 yards out. "Lights exposing to identify same. No further news of same." In both these incidents both Stations had been "Alerted" and made "Ready for Action".

At 1425 hours on 12 April 1942, 3 FSHQ reported unidentified aircraft sighted 20 miles north east of Victim Hill moving south. At 1431 hours 3 FSHQ reported aircraft had been identified as USAAF B-26 Marauders. Both stations had been "Alerted" and made "Ready for Action".

At 1755 hours on 13 April 1942, 3 FSHQ reported enemy aircraft over Cairns. 3 FSHQ reported "All Clear" at 1810 hours. Both Stations had been "Alerted" and "Ready for Action".

At 0900 hours on 15 April 1942, advice was received that 5,497 rounds of 3.7" H.E. ammunition had arrived at Townsville Railway Station. 900 of these rounds were delivered to Mount St. John between 1300 and 1800 hours on 15 April 1942.

On 20 April 1942 the 2/9th Light Anti-aircraft Battery marched in and struck camp at the rear of Headquarters Camp with all their equipment.

At 0925 hours on 21 April 1942 Fighter Sector Headquarters reported an unidentified aircraft within range heading south. Both stations ordered "Alarm: conditions at 1000 hours on 21 April 1942. Mount St. John "Stood to" ready for action and Pallarenda engaged two aircraft at bearing of 70º and a height of 6,400 feet. A salvo of 4 rounds were fired. The aircraft then went out of range. At 1036 hours 3 Fighter Sector Headquarters reported to revert to Normal Conditions.

In September 1942, Headquarters Anti-aircraft Group (North Queensland) was formed in Townsville which was in command of the Anti-aircraft Operations Room (Townsville) and 16th Anti-aircraft Battery in Townsville. It also had administrative control over some Australian Army AA Units in Cairns and Mareeba which stayed under US Army operational command.

All Anti-aircraft Units were restructured in August 1943 which saw Headquarters Anti-aircraft Group (North Queensland) renamed to Headquarters Townsville Anti-aircraft Group with its role limited to the Townsville area as the US Army units were starting to move further north. 16th Anti-aircraft Battery became 16th Heavy Anti-aircraft Battery (Static) and shared its gun stations with Headquarters 7th Heavy Anti-aircraft Battery (Static) which had arrived from the Sydney area and the 607th Light Anti-aircraft Troop (Static) which arrived to take over the low level defence role in the Townsville area.

4 x 3.7" Gun Stations were established at a number of locations around Townsville:-

The Defence arrangements in the Townsville area required all Allied aircraft to enter the Townsville restricted area by a specified "Lane of Entry". On 28 March 1942,both the RAAF and USAAF were reminded of these arrangements by the G.O.C. Northern Command following two recent occasions where a 16 HAA Battery, probably Mount St John or Pallarenda had opened fire on friendly aircraft which had not followed appropriate entry procedures.

Funeral ceremony at the US Armed Forces Cemetery at the Belgian
Gardens Cemetery. Jimmy's Lookout can be seen in the background.
A concrete bunker is still located at the right hand side of the hill.

Jimmy's Lookout can be seen near the middle of the photo at the left hand
side of the cemetery. Garbutt airfield can be seen in teh background.

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