394 AUSTRALIAN HEAVY ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN STATION PALLARENDA
TOWNSVILLE, NORTH QLD
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII

G.O.C. Northern Command reported to Army Headquarters, H.Q. Home Forces on 17 January 1942 on progress of the Gun Station at Three Mile Camp, Pallarenda (Station No. 1 or X Station), and at Mt. St John (Station No. 2 or Y Station) and also progress on the Battery Headquarters B.H.Q. at Jimmy's Lookout. Progress on the Pallarenda Gun Station was reported as follows:-

"The present position as regards the installation and manning of the anti-aircraft guns for 16 A.A. Bty as TOWNSVILLE is as shown hereunder:-

1. THREE MILE Camp - PALLARENDA ROAD

(a) A.A. Guns
    Four 3.7 inch guns are now in positions on this site.

(b) One section of 2 officers and 75 O.R.s are now camped in tents on this site. These personnel include 3 O.R.s for B.H.Q. staff.

(c) Equipment -
    No instruments, accessories, spare parts, ammunition or equipment for communications have been received.

(d) Buildings -
    No building materials have yet been received at the camp site, but the hut locations have been pegged out.

(e) Manning -
    The guns cannot be manned owing to lack of ammunitions etc., but elementary gun drill has been carried out, slit trenches have been prepared, and gun positions and instrument sites revetted.

 

Plan:- NAA file

Typical layout for a 3.7" Heavy Anti-aircraft Gun Station

 

The War Diary for 16 Heavy Anti-aircraft on the Australian War Memorial web site stated the following:-

1 March 1942
0800 to 1630 hrs. - "Weather - Fine. Further work on revettments and Magazines. Camouflaging of gun positions and holdfasts. Main Roads Commission assisting with revettments and building magazines' Also sinking and erecting walls on well for water. All guns and instruments ready for action. Fuse setters fitted on three guns. Continuous manning."

2 March 1942
0800 to 1630 hrs. - "Weather - Fine. Continuous manning. Main Roads Commission assisting with erection and carting of filling for finishing off of revettments. Still erection magazines. Station viewed from the air and further improvements in camouflaging being carried out."

3 March 1942
0800 to 1630 hrs. - "Weather - Fine. Continuous manning. Further work on revettments and Main Roads Commission building magazines. Camouflaging of guns and command post. 2 holdfasts at Mt. St. John ready for mounting of guns."

4 March 1942
0800 to 1630 hrs. - "Weather - Fine. Continuous manning. Further work on revettments and magazines and camouflaging of guns etc."

6 March 1942
1500 hrs. - Lockheed Hudson engaged by Section (at Pallarenda), 4 rounds fired in 2 salvoes. False height set into predictor in both cases. Plane did not observe Lane of Entry.

7 March 1942
1725 hrs. - Section (at Pallarenda) opened fire on Empire Flying Boat not observing Lane of Entry. Salvo of 3 rounds fired. Continuous manning.. Main Roads Commission working on station at Mt. St. John.

8 March 1942
0810 hrs. Section (at Pallarenda) opened fire on Flying Fortress not observing Lane of Entry. 2 rounds fired and aircraft turned and flew out and entered on correct Lane of Entry.

9 March 1942
No. 1 Station now in action with all equipment and instruments complete. Continually manned.

At 0940 hours on 10 March 1942, 119 Other Ranks marched in from Brisbane and were transported to Pallarenda and commenced training on the guns.

Further work was carried out by the Queensland Main Roads Commission on revettments and magazines on No. 1 Station on 12 March 1942.

At 1040 hours on 14 March 1942, the "Section opened fire, a warning shot, at three Curtiss Mohawaks (sic Warhawks) not observing the Lane of Entry."

At 1630 hours on 15 March 1942, a B-17 Flying Fortress "appeared from storm clouds in the west. A warning shot was fired and the plane landed quickly."

At approximately 1630 hours on 18 March 1942 a report was received of seven unidentified aircraft heading south. They appeared over the area at 6,000 feet. The Section opened fire on the aircraft regarding them as hostile. After 19 rounds were fired at them, they were finally identified as being RAAF Wirraways. They had approached from the sun at a great height and should not have approached in formation or on that bearing.

At 1200 hours on 19 March 1942, an unidentified aircraft was fired upon over the Garbutt Airfield. "It immediately landed. One round jammed and became separated in the gun. Lack of correct tools, the round was fired at a safe bearing and angle instead of being ejected under great risk."

On 21 March 1942 work continued on revetments at Pallarenda.

At 1150 hours on 21 March 1942, one Japanese Mitsubishi M.C.20 aircraft was sighted at a height estimated between eighteen and twenty thousand feet. C.D.H. was notified through Fort Kissing Point. The aircraft disappeared into the clouds before the height finder could get its height and was not seen again by the lookouts. Training was underway at Pallarenda and complete manning was still in place.

Spare parts and small stores were incomplete at both Pallarenda and Mt. St. John as of 23 March 1942.

A report was received from C.D.H. at 2240 hours on 25 March 1942 that an unidentified aircraft over Ingham. Sections stood to for one hour. Nothing further was heard of the aircraft and C.D.H. reported no further news..

Work continued on revetting of M.G. posts at Pallarenda on 26 - 29 March 1942. Cables were being laid into Mt. St. John and Pallarenda from telephone line terminations.

Work continued on revetting of M.G. posts and protection of water tanks and communication cables on 29, 30 and 31 March 1942.

At 1740 hours on 30 March 1942, a report was received that fifty unidentified aircraft had been sighted north of Cairns, heading south. Both sections were ordered to stand by for action and continued standing to, until 2015 hours, when C.D.H. reported that the previous report was not confirmed. Both sections were then ordered to resume normal conditions.

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 1435 hours on 16 April 1942, 3 Fighter Sector Headquarters reported unidentified aircraft over Palm Island heading south. 3 FSHQ reported "All Clear", aircraft identified, at 1445 hours. Both Mount St. John and Pallarenda had been "Alerted", "Stood to" and "Ready for Action".

3 Fighter Sector Headquarters reported enemy aircraft heading south at 1500 hours on 17 April 1942 but quickly reported "All Clear" at 1510 hours. Both Sections "Stood to" "Ready for Action".

The Main Roads Commission continued building the roadway at Pallarenda on 19, 20 and 21 April 1942.

The Governor, His Excellency, Sir Leslie Wilson and Brigadier Crawford visited Pallarenda at 0930 hours on 19 April 1942. General camp duties and working on blast walls, and telephone cables. General Camp duties plus section training - Gun and Instrument drills and Reg. training.

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.

The Main Roads Commission continued work at Pallarenda on the roadway and commenced erection of the Q Store on 22 April 1942.

Main Roads Commission continued working on the roadway and construction of the Q Store on 23 and 24 April 1942.

Ashes were spread to camouflage the station appearance on 24 April 1942. 3 FSHQ reported two unidentified aircraft approaching Townsville over Magnetic Island on course 74 degrees at 1820 hours. Both stations were place don ready for action status. 3 FSHQ reported the "All clear" at 1855 hours and both stations reverted to normal conditions.

The Main Roads Commission continued work at Pallarenda a Q Store on 25 April 1942. At about 2325 hours on 25 April 1942, both sections were alerted following a report of two unidentified aircraft heard approaching from the north without navigation lights. They circled over Townsville, then headed south. The "All clear" was given at 0010 hours on 26 April 1942.

A message was received from Brigade Headquarters at 0830 hours on 26 April 1942 informing all personnel of the seriousness of the tactical situation and precautionary measures taken. Wireless receiver sets were installed at Mount St. John and Pallarenda for communication with U.S.A. Station "Canton".

Training as per the syllabus was underway at both stations on 27 April 1942. At 0735 hours 3 FSHQ reported 4 unidentified aircraft 50 miles north of Palm Island moving south. Both stations were alerted and were ready for action. At 0800 hours the unidentified aircraft were 15 miles north and slightly east of Palm Island. At 0825 hours two aircraft were identified as friendly aircraft with another two still remaining unidentified. At 0830 hours the other two aircraft were identified as B-26 Marauders. Both stations reverted to normal conditions.

Both stations were dispersing tents and continued to camouflage their areas on 28 April 1942.

Camouflaging and dispersing of tents was underway at Mount St. John and Pallarenda on 29 April 1942.

The Queensland Main Road Commission were working on the magazines at both Mt. St. John and Pallarenda Stations on 30 April 1942. Camouflaging was underway at both stations. At 1950 hours 3 Fighter Sector Headquarters reported two unidentified aircraft over Magnetic Island. Both Stations were "alarmed" and stood to ready for action. 3 FSHQ reported the "All clear" at 2021 hours and both stations reverted to normal.

Can anyone help me with more information?

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This page first produced 29 July 2022

This page last updated 04 August 2022