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Caversham Airfield

Caversham Airfield, also known as Middle Swan Airfield was an airfield constructed at Caversham, Western Australia during World War II as a parent aerodrome for use by the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm and the United States Navy.[1]

The airfield had a triangle of three landing strips.[1][2]

Middle Swan was the parent airfield with the following satellite airfields:

The United States Army Air Corps also utilised the airfield during World War II.

It was also a gliding club location after the war.[3][4]

Motor racing circuit

The airfield was later utilised as a motor racing circuit, hosting its first event in 1946.[5] In 1956 the Western Australia Sporting Car Club gained a lease for the property, which was then converted into a permanent circuit.[1] It became Western Australia's premier motor racing venue, hosting the Australian Grand Prix in 1957 and 1962[6] and the Six Hour Le Mans endurance race from 1955 to 1968.[5] Racing activities ceased when the airfield was re-activated as a military facility for radio communications,[6] and Western Australian racing shifted to Wanneroo Raceway in 1969.[5]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The usage of Gin Gin – at the Western Australian location – is found in some documents, but general usage is a single word with no duplication Gingin, Western Australia, there is another location in Australia with the duplicated form – see Gin Gin, Queensland

References

  1. ^ a b c OzatWar Website
  2. ^ "AIRPORT NEWS ROUND-UP". The West Australian. Western Australia. 2 September 1947. p. 14. Retrieved 22 January 2020 – via Trove.
  3. ^ "GLIDING ENTHUSIASTS ACQUIRE NEW TUG' PLANE". The Beverley Times. Western Australia. 18 December 1975. p. 8. Retrieved 22 January 2020 – via Trove.
  4. ^ "GLIDER CRASH". Kalgoorlie Miner. Western Australia. 18 March 1946. p. 2. Retrieved 22 January 2020 – via Trove.
  5. ^ a b c Pedr Davis, The Macquarie Dictionary of Motoring, page 78
  6. ^ a b Gian De Poloni (18 November 2018). "Push to save Perth's historic WWII era Grand Prix racing track from development". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 18 November 2018.

Further reading