Nhill Airport

Nhill Airport
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator Shire of Hindmarsh
Location Nhill, Victoria
Elevation AMSL 454 ft / 138 m
Coordinates 36°18′35″S 141°38′27″E / 36.30972°S 141.64083°E / -36.30972; 141.64083Coordinates: 36°18′35″S 141°38′27″E / 36.30972°S 141.64083°E / -36.30972; 141.64083
Map
YNHL

Location in Victoria

Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
09/27 1,000 3,281 Asphalt
18/36 952 3,123 Grass
Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart[1]

Nhill Airport (ICAO: YNHL) is located 1 nautical mile (1.9 km; 1.2 mi) northwest[1] of Nhill, Victoria, Australia, about four hours northwest of Melbourne. The Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre is located there.

History

World War II

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) commandeered the airfield during World War II.

No. 1 Operational Training Unit

No. 1 Operational Training Unit (1OTU) provided advanced operational flying and instruction. Formed on 22 December 1941, the unit was temporary housed at Nhill until RAAF East Sale at Sale, Victoria became available. Due to operational requirements the RAAF relocated 1OTU to RAAF Bairnsdale at Bairnsdale, Victoria in June 1942.

No. 2 Air Navigation School

No. 2 Air Navigation School relocated to Nhill from RAAF Mount Gambier at Mount Gambier, South Australia in September 1941. The commanding officer was Wing Commander A.G. Carr (AFC). Airplanes used to train pilots in air navigation were Fairey Battles, Tiger Moths, Wirraways, Oxfords, Beauforts and Hudsons.

RAAF Armament School

On 13 December 1943 the RAAF Armament School relocated from Hamilton to Nhill. The commanding officer was Wing Commander A.D. Garrison. Renamed as the Air Armament School on 15 January 1944 and later to the Air Armament and Gas School.

Proposed USAAF camp

A USAAF advance flying unit camp was proposed in early 1942. Although buildings were constructed, the camp was never used.[2]

Post-war

In 2008 the process began to create the Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre. As of 2017 it is restoring an Avro Anson and looking to purchase a CAC Wirraway.[3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 YNHL – Nhill (PDF). AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia, effective 25 May 2017, Aeronautical Chart
  2. ↑ Dunn, Peter. "USAAF CAMP AT NHILL AIRFIELD NHILL, VIC, DURING WWII". www.ozatwar.com. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  3. ↑ Hill's Aviation History Retrieved 22 March 2017
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