Past Where The
Planes Fly
Welcome to my first cache hide... Well, this is
my first cache. I put in a place that i like to walk to and will be
able to check it often. Set near the Tocumwal Aerodome, you can
drive or walk this one.
As of 18/09/2011 I have revamped the page with some information on
the Tocumwal Airfield.
This is the first cache in what is now becoming a series around the
Tocumwal Airfield. This cache, depending on which way you drive,
will take you around the current boundary of the airfiled, which is
much reduced compared to what it was in it's day as an operating
military base.
Now a little bit of history on the Tocumwal Airfield, or as it used
to be called in WW2, McIntyre Field.
The History...
The Tocumwal Airfield began operation in the second world war in
response to the Japanese moving south in the Pacific Ocean. There
was a real threat that they were going to invade Australia, and
Tocumwal was a major airfield which was going to be used in that
defense.
When occupied by the USAF (US Air Force) it was called McIntyre
Field. In 1942, the RAAF took over operation of the airfield and
called it "Tocumwal".
During its operation the airfiled was 25 square miles in size and
was home to many different types of planes. including 54 B-24
Liberator bombers, 11 Vultee Vengeance, 5 Kittyhawks and an
Airspeed Oxford.
After the war it was also used as a vast storage and repair depot
with aircraft such as Avro Anson, Airacobra, Beaufort, Boeing,
Boomerang, Dakota, Hudson, Lancaster, Lincoln, Meteor, Mosquito,
Mustang, Spitfire, Beaufighter, Vampire, Winjeel and
Wirraway.
After the RAAF left Tocumwal in 1960, over 700 aircraft were
scrapped through until 1963. Many aircraft were smelted on site
into aluminum ingots, pots and pans. The Holden Motor Company
brought much of the Aluminium
Similarly, almost all of the 608 buildings on the airbase and at
the hospital, were sold and removed. With post war building
supplies almost impossible to get, this was popular at the time,
but there was little foresight as to the historical value of this.
There are a few buildings left, and many foundations which are
subject of some caches in this series.
There were originally six large hangars built on site, there are
three remaining today. One is used by the gliding club onsite to
store aircraft. This is the hanger featured in this cache.
The runway nearest to this cache was originally longer. It was
shortened after 1960 as was the North-South runway. There was
another runway, the longest of all four that were made, which has
been covered by soil, and if you drive about 400 meters west of the
cache named "Gate 9 - Tocumwal Airfield" along the road the cache
is on, you can see some white markers in the field, inside the
airport fence line. This marks where that runway is. This location
will be subject of another cache soon.
Our house is on land that used to be part of the airbase. When I
have been working on our block, I have found old aircraft tools,
red bricks from buildings and old bullet casings.
There are other caches around the area which have information about
the airfield. These caches will be listed with the title
"McIntyre Field"
The are well worth visiting, as the locations are very historical.
Another image is shown below, it is an aerial shot of the airfield
facing south. The hanger which this cache is the subject of, is
shown around middle right.
Visit this link Tocumwal Airfield During
WW2 or Visit this link
A Brief History of Tocumwal Aerodrome
For more information if you like. It's not a bad read, and has some
good information and pics.
Once again, have fun and be careful with the kiddies near the road.
Also, anywhere in Australia, BE CAREFUL AND ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
SNAKES, ESPECIALLY WITH THE KIDS. Good luck and importantly, have
fun.