Archerfield Airport - the World War 2 air base Claimed

When the Second World War started, Archerfield became an important military air base for the RAAF, and the United States Army Air Force, the Royal Netherlands Air Force and the Royal Navy Air Arm.

American B-17 Flying Fortresses, P-40 Kittyhawks, DC-3 Dakotas and Dutch B-25 Mitchell bombers became common sights at Archerfield.  Many large hangars were built on both sides of Beatty Road during the war. 

Situated along Kerry Road on the outskirts of the airport today lies the heritage listed Archerfield Second World War Igloos Complex – a small cluster of the distinctive curved corrugated iron hulks which dotted the Brisbane landscape during the war years. Three of these were hangars and one a store. Final fit-out of B-17 Flying Fortresses took place in some of those giant hangars. 

Three of those on the eastern side of Beatty Road still stand today along Kerry Road.  They were used by the big earth-moving companies Thiess Brothers and Hastings Deering after the war. Today they are still dominated by Hastings Deering CAT.

After the war, the P-51 Mustang and then de Havilland DH-100 Vampire aircraft of the RAAF’s 23 Squadron were based at Archerfield until September 1955.

Once Eagle Farm became established as the main civilian passenger centre and the RAAF moved to Amberley, Archerfield became a thriving light aircraft centre.  There are now many Flight Training Schools and Light Aircraft Service Centres based at Archerfield including FlightOne, Basair, Pathfinder Aviation, Flightscope, A.S. Flying School and the Griffith University Flight Academy.

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