Strict censorship meant that most Australians were unaware that a crucial battle was taking place off the coast of north Queensland during early May 1942. Japanese plans for the invasion of Port Moresby were thwarted by American and Australian naval and air forces during the Battle of the Coral Sea. Instead of proceeding with expansion of Cairns airfield the United States Army Air Force decided to establish a more secure advanced operational base at Mareeba on the Atherton Tableland.

Work on Mareeba airfield was started on 12 May four days after the Coral Sea battle ended and the first gravel strip was in use in just ten days. Mareeba would become the main operational airfield in far north Queensland. Between May and July the 28th, 30th and 93rd Bombardment Squadrons of the 19th Bomb. Group began moving from outback bases at Cloncurry and Longreach to their new quarters at Mareeba airfield. From July 1942 to May 1943 thousands of American servicemen of seven heavy bomber squadrons from the US 19th and 43rd Bomb. Groups made Mareeba their home. During this time they launched missions against Japanese targets in New Guinea and throughout the South West Pacific Area.

American presence at Mareeba grew rapidly with the arrival of other support units. As work began on the airfield, Mareeba State School was taken over by US 2 Station Hospital in expectation of casualties. The timber-frame, weatherboard-clad school comprising three main blocks built around a central quadrangle, was developed into two large wards with separate operating theatre and morgue, dental clinic, staff accommodation, and a mess block. The hospital was fully equipped and had its own mechanised laundry.