Bowen Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Flying Boat Base

Port Denison Sailing Club

The association of RAAF amphibious aircraft with Bowen extends back to the late 1920s when 101 Flight operated Supermarine Seagull III bi-planes from the seaplane tender HMAS Albatross, to obtain aerial photography over parts of the Great Barrier Reef. From the early years of World War II, RAAF No.9 Fleet Cooperation Squadron operated Seagull V (Walrus) amphibious aircraft from Bowen.

Consolidated Catalina flying boats of RAAF Nos.11 and 20 Squadrons were initially based at Port Moresby, flying long range patrols often involving night bombing of Japanese island strongholds. As Port Moresby came under attack causing the destruction of several Catalinas, the squadrons moved to the comparative safety of Bowen and continued to mount operations against the Japanese.

A temporary timber slipway was built at Bowen in mid-1942 and this was replaced by a permanent concrete maintenance hardstand and slipway. The construction proved difficult, but the concrete slipway and expansive apron, remain intact as evidence of the important wartime role played by Bowen as a major flying boat repair depot.

Place information

Location

Quay Street

Bowen, QLD 4805

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Place type

Airfield

History

A Japanese attempt to capture Port Moresby and gain a foothold in the Solomon Islands was thwarted in early May 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Sea. RAAF Catalinas flew many hours of reconnaissance missions over the Coral Sea searching for the Port Moresby invasion fleet. As the battle began

an urgent request was made by the RAAF for a flying boat slipway at Bowen to maintain the Catalinas of Nos. 11 and 20 Squadrons, based there. The first slipway was built at the harbour end of Brisbane Street, north of the town jetty. This section of Brisbane Street is...

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