War Memorials in Australia
Mareeba Aerodrome War Memorial
Place:
Mareeba, Queensland, 4880
District:
Northern Tropical
Coast and Tablelands
Orientation:
Location: Mareeba Aerodrome, Kennedy Highway
Position:
Ref: 40254
__________________________
The memorial is a wall with an aircraft propeller. In front is a small fountain.
? face
Bronze plaque
Insignia of Royal Australian Air
Force Bas-relief aircraft
Insignia of United States Army Airforce
MAREEBA AERODROME
THIS AERODROME PLAYED A DECISIVE
PART IN
KEEPING AUSTRALIA FREE FROM INVASION
DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR - 1939 - 1945.
ALLIED AIRCRAFT FROM THE 19TH AND 43RD
BOMBARDMENT GROUPS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY AIRFORCE
AND FROM THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE
LAUNCHED AN AIR OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE
JAPANESE INVADERS IN JUNE/JULY, 1942.
Metal plaques on left side
1st plaque
MAREEBA AERODROME
1939 - 1945
ON 28TH JUNE 1942, BEAUFORT AIRCRAFT,
FLOWN BY CREWS OF No. 100 SQUADRON, R.A.A.F.
TOOK OFF FROM THIS AERODROME TO CARRY OUT
THE FIRST BOMBING STRIKES BY AUSTRALIAN-BUILT
BOMBERS AGAINST ENEMY TARGETS IN NEW GUINEA.
2nd plaque
MAREEBA AERODROME
1939 - 1945
THIS PLAQUE IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF
THE TEN (10) U.S. SERVICEMEN,
AIRCREW OF A B17 FLYING FORTRESS BOMBER,
WHO LOST THEIR LIVES WHEN THEIR PLANE CRASHED
IN THE VICINITY OF THE MAREEBA AERODROME
IN JULY, 1942
3rd plaque
MAREEBA AERODROME
1939 - 1945
THIS PLAQUE IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF
ANDREW KENDALL DUKE, 22 YEARS,
OF OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI U.S.A.,
WHO WAS KILLED WHEN HIS LOCKHEED P38
LIGHTNING FIGHTER BOMBER
CRASHED NEAR BIBOOHRA
ON 9TH AUGUST, 1943
Plaque on ?
COMMEMORATING
THE DECISIVE PART
THIS AERODROME PLAYED
IN MAINTAINING AUSTRALIA
FREE FROM INVASION
1942 - 1945
Information current to September 2004
Sources: The information and photograph on this page have been kindly provided by Peter Fox