Royal Newcastle Aero Club

World War II

Royal Newcastle Aero Club Flight Training Tiger Moth Joy Flights New administrative offices and workshop were occupied in June 1938, and the whole of the Club’s flying, administrative, maintenance and social activities were now housed under one roof.

1940 – 1950

War clouds gathered on the horizon and in 1939 the world was plunged into World War II. With the advent of the war the Club’s aircraft were all impressed into the Royal Australian Air Force for service as trainers. Club members were scattered throughout the world, many serving in the 3 services. An Honour Roll in the Club House records their names for posterity.

During World War II many kinds of aircraft used the field, among them Catalina amphibians, walruses and Dakotas. There were several wartime accidents – an American Dakota with troops on board overshot the runway into a storm water channel bordering the field. Later, a Boomerang and a Wirraway did the same thing.

A Boston bomber wiped off its undercarriage and slid on a nearby road and a Kittyhawk crash-landed on a grass strip. A disabled Beaufort bomber crashed into nearby District Park whilst attempting a forced landing onto the Broadmeadow field.

The workshops at the Club were engaged throughout the wartime years on work for the war effort, the overhaul of Wackett and Oxford trainers and the manufacturing of wooden wing tips for Mosquito fighter-bombers.