Caversham Airfield, also known as Middle Swan Airfield was an airfield constructed at Caversham, Western Australia during World War II as a parent aerodrome for use by the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm and the United States Navy.[1]
Caversham Airfield | |
|---|---|
| Summary | |
| Location | Caversham, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 31°50′16″S 115°58′27″E / 31.83778°S 115.97417°E |
| Map | |
  Caversham Airfield Location in Western Australia | |
 | |
The airfield had a triangle of three landing strips.[1][2]
Middle Swan was the parent airfield with the following satellite airfields:
- Beverley
- Bindoon
- Gingin North[a]
- Mooliabeenee
The United States Army Air Corps also utilised the airfield during World War II.
Motor racing circuit
edit| Location | Caversham, Western Australia |
|---|---|
| Owner | Department of Defence |
| Operator | Western Australia Sporting Car Club |
| Opened | 1946 |
| Closed | 1968 |
| Major events | Australian Grand Prix Australian Drivers' Champ. Six Hour Le Mans |
| Length | 3.50 km (2.18 miles) |
| Turns | 10 |
The airfield was later utilised as a motor racing circuit, hosting its first event in 1946.[5] In 1956 the Western Australia Sporting Car Club gained a lease for the property, which was then converted into a permanent circuit.[1] It became Western Australia's premier motor racing venue, hosting the Australian Grand Prix in 1957 and 1962[6] and the Six Hour Le Mans endurance race from 1955 to 1968.[5] Racing activities ceased when the airfield was re-activated as a military facility for radio communications,[6] and Western Australian racing shifted to Wanneroo Raceway in 1969.[5]
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ The usage of Gin Gin – at the Western Australian location – is found in some documents, but general usage is a single word with no duplication Gingin, Western Australia, there is another location in Australia with the duplicated form – see Gin Gin, Queensland
References
edit- ^ a b c OzatWar Website
- ^ "AIRPORT NEWS ROUND-UP". The West Australian. Western Australia. 2 September 1947. p. 14. Retrieved 22 January 2020 – via Trove.
- ^ "GLIDING ENTHUSIASTS ACQUIRE NEW TUG' PLANE". The Beverley Times. Western Australia. 18 December 1975. p. 8. Retrieved 22 January 2020 – via Trove.
- ^ "GLIDER CRASH". Kalgoorlie Miner. Western Australia. 18 March 1946. p. 2. Retrieved 22 January 2020 – via Trove.
- ^ a b c Pedr Davis, The Macquarie Dictionary of Motoring, page 78
- ^ a b Gian De Poloni (18 November 2018). "Push to save Perth's historic WWII era Grand Prix racing track from development". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
Further reading
edit- Lance Muir, Richard Duckworth, N. Hyde, (1946?) Flight without power – the art in Australia [videorecording]1 videocassette (VHS) (12 min., 2 sec.) : si., col. with b&w sequences ; 1/2 in. PAL format [State Film Archives collection] Showing the activities of gliding clubs in the various Australian states. Shows local enthusiast, Ric New, and activities at the bases of operations at Lake Pinjar (Pinjar Soaring Club), West Subiaco (WA Flying Club) and Caversham (Perth Gliding Club) in 1941 and 1946. WA segment is appr. 3 mins.
