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Torrens Creek Airfield
Construction of a dispersed bomber field between Hughenden and Charters Towers was called for early in 1942 and a suitable site was selected at Torrens Creek on the Townsville-Mount Isa railway, where work began in March 1942. Personnel of the US 46th Engineer General Service Regiment cleared and levelled the Torrens Creek runways each 7000 feet (2133 metres) in length for the use of heavy bombers. On the main runway, running parallel with the railway, a pieced steel plank (PSP) mat was placed over the middle section to ensure the airfield was capable of all-weather use. This use of PSP appears to be the first of importance in the South-West Pacific Area. The matting was removed as the war effort moved on. Torrens Creek airfield was visited by US congressman, and future American president, Lyndon Johnson, in June 1942, while on a brief tour of the South-West Pacific Area. Johnson noted that the main runway was made of steel mat. While returning from Port Moresby, a faulty compass adjustment caused the congressional party’s aircraft to make an unscheduled landing at Carisbrooke station south of Winton.
Place information
Location
Place type
Airfield
History
During mid March 1942, the United States 46th Engineers and men and equipment of the Main Roads Commission commenced construction of US combat airfields at Woodstock, Reid River and Torrens Creek, west of Townsville. The 46th Engineers arrived at Torrens Creek on 22 March and began work immediately clearing and grubbing three runways and blowing up stumps with gelignite. The PSP mat arrived within days and was quickly installed on the main east-west runway, although probably not needed as the airfield was on hard sandy soil. A section 2500 feet (762 metres) long was laid ready for use in five...
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