Fenton Airfield
| Location | |
|---|---|
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NT Portion 4855(A). About 45km north of Pine Creek. |
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| Gazettal Date | |
| 11 September 1996. Northern Territory Government Gazette No. G37. |
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| Description | |
| to be provided | |
| Statement of Heritage Value | |
| The construction of Fenton Airfield commenced in 1942. The site was named after F/Lt Clyde Fenton, the renowned "Flying Doctor" of pre-war days who recommended the area for a heavy bomber airfield. Initial works were carried out by the personnel of the US 808th Engineer Battalion, whilst further development was undertaken by No 1 Airfield Construction Squadron (ACS), No 14 ACS and Department of Main Roads (DMR) (NSW) under the Allied Works Council. The airfield was used mainly by Liberator bombers which mounted long range raids in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) and as far as Balikapapan. The airfield suffered two heavy attacks by Japanese aircraft during mid-1943. The site is highly significant on a national level as a combat base used from late 1942 in operations against Japanese forces in the NEI, North Western Area of Operations (NWA), and the South-West Pacific Area to war's end. The site is an outstanding example of a World War II heavy bomber airfield construction and layout, and is one of three surviving examples of heavy bomber airfields in the Katherine-Darwin region. |
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| Further Reading | |
| to be provided | |
