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No.1 Wireless Unit
In early 1942, the gravity of the war situation and the scarcity of building materials meant that civilian homes could be requisitioned under Commonwealth Security regulations by the military forces.
By mid-March 1942 it was decided to set up a wireless intercept station in a forward area consisting of RAAF and US personnel. Townsville was considered an ideal location for the interception and decoding of Japanese transmissions.
Place information
Location
Place type
Radar/signal station
History
In French Street Pimlico, several fashionable Inter-War style homes had just been completed for their owners when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour in December 1941.
Two of these homes were initially commandeered, 24 French St and 21 Sycamore St. Expansion of the intercept station meant that 25 and 26 French St, plus 3 Sycamore St were also required. Another house at 20 French Street was requested however the owner refused to leave. The authorities relented and several tents were placed on a spare block across from 24 French St. On 25 April 1942 this secretive unit was given the deliberately ambiguous...
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