| RAAF Base Tindal | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: KTR – ICAO: YPTN | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Military / Katherine Town Council | ||
| Operator | RAAF | ||
| Location | Katherine, Northern Territory | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 443 ft / 145 m | ||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 14/32 | 9,003 | 2,744 | Asphalt |
RAAF Base Tindal (RAAF Tindal) (IATA: KTR, ICAO: YPTN) is a Royal Australian Air Force air base located near the town of Katherine in the Northern Territory. The base is currently home to No. 75 Squadron and a number of non-flying units, and also hosts the Katherine Tindal Airport civilian airfield.
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RAAF Tindal was initially built for the RAAF as Carson's Airfield, also known as Kit Carson's Field, in 1942. The airfield was constructed by the 43rd Engineer General Services Regiment (US Army) and the Civil Construction Corps. Further works were undertaken by No. 1 Airfield Construction Squadron RAAF and No. 3 Airfield Construction Squadron RAAF.
The airfield was renamed in honour of Wing Commander Archibald R. Tindal, the first RAAF officer killed in action on the Australian mainland during the bombing of Darwin on 19 February 1942.[1][2] Tindal is buried at the Adelaide River war cemetery.[1]
The airfield was later occupied by No. 5 Replenishing Centre RAAF. The RAAF ceased basing operational units at the airfield following the end of World War II.
Between 1963 and 1970, No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron RAAF rebuilt the runway, taxiways and hard stand to handle larger, more modern aircraft and enable the base to operate as a 'bare base'. In 1968, it was opened as Katherine's second domestic airport, being used by Ansett-ANA, TAA and Conellen. The base was occasionally used by units based at RAAF Base Darwin and other bases.
In 1984, the Australian government decided to move the RAAF's fast jet base in the Northern Territory from RAAF Darwin to Tindal. This move was intended to provide the RAAF with a base which was outside the cyclone zone and easier to defend against external attack. After a major upgrade RAAF Tindal became operational on 1 October 1988 and was officially opened on 31 March 1989 by the then Prime Minister, Bob Hawke.[1][3]
Since its establishment, RAAF Tindal has served as the RAAF's main operational base in the Northern Territory. The base regularly hosts other units for exercises and was used to support the Australian-led intervention into East Timor in 1999.[1]
In keeping with Tindal's role as a front-line operational air base, it is one of the few Australian defence establishments to be manned exclusively by uniformed personnel. In addition, the base has more defensive installations than is common in Australian air bases and can host hundreds of ground troops.
In the late 1980s, with the closure of the Katherine Aerodrome, the bases civilian facilities were upgraded. A general aviation apron and civilian passenger terminal were built under an agreement between the RAAF and Katherine Town Council. The civilian area is known as Katherine Tindal Airport.[4]
| Unit name | FEG | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| No. 44 Wing Detachment Tindal | Surveillance and Response Group | |
| No. 75 Squadron | Air Combat Group | F/A-18 |
| No. 278 Squadron Detachment Tindal | Air Combat Group | |
| No. 1 Air Terminal Squadron Detachment Tindal | Combat Support Group | |
| No. 322 Combat Support Squadron | Combat Support Group | |
| No. 3 Control and Reporting Unit Detachment Tindal RAAF | Surveillance and Response Group |
A detachment of two Boeing Wedgetail AWACS aircraft from No. 2 Squadron will be based at Tindal after these aircraft enter service.
In addition, the Army's NORFORCE Regional Force Surveillance Unit has a detachment located at Tindal.
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