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Bundaberg Areodrome and Bellman Hangar
Hinkler Airport
Bundaberg was different to many other WWII airfield locations in that it was one of several EFTS centres. Before the Japanese came into the war the RAAF commenced what became a major Australian contribution to the United Kingdom’s war effort by training pilots and air crew literally by the thousands. This scheme was known as the Empire Air Training Scheme—EATS
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Location
Place type
Airfield
History
Bundaberg was one of the centres in Queensland chosen. It also figured in a further development of the scheme in that No.8 SFTS (Service Flying Training School) was also located there.
The rudiments of bomb aimer training were skills embraced by activities at Bundaberg and to that end a practice bombing range was located south of the airfield adjacent the road leading to Childers and beyond.
This airfield figured strongly in the operation of coastal surveillance aircraft and convoy protection duties. The RAAFs 71 Squadron was one so deployed, be it equipped only with 1930s twin engine Avro Anson fabric covered aircraft.
Such...
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