View source for Parap Airfield

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2013}}
{{Infobox airport
| name         =Parap Airfield
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| location     =[[Parap, Northern Territory]]
| opened       = 1919<!-- {{start date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| closed       = 1946<!-- {{end date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
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'''Parap Airfield''' was the civilian aerodrome of [[Darwin, Northern Territory]], in Australia between 1919 and 1946. Located in the coastal suburb of [[Parap, Northern Territory|Parap]], it was also known as ''Darwin Aerodrome'' and ''[[Ross Macpherson Smith|Ross Smith]] Aerodrome''.

==History==
[[File:Parap Hangar.jpg|thumb|right|Former Parap Airfield hangar (2004)]]
The airfield was established in the suburb of Parap to act as the Australian Terminal as part of the 1919 England to Australia air race. It operated as a combined civilian and military airfield.

The [[Royal Australian Air Force]] (RAAF) deployed its [[No. 12 Squadron RAAF|No. 12 Squadron]] to the aerodrome in September 1939 after the declaration of war against Germany and amidst increasing suspicion regarding Japanese imperialism. By early 1942, the aerodrome was mainly used by the RAAF, although [[Guinea Airways]] retained a civilian presence. [[No. 34 Squadron RAAF]] was formed on 23 February 1942 at the aerodrome.

The Japanese bombed the aerodrome in a number of raids on Darwin during 1942, resulting in extensive damage to the town and hangar. The hangar was extensively damaged after suffering a direct hit and the damage can still be seen in the north-east corner of the original steel frame.

[[No. 6 Communications Flight RAAF]] was based at the aerodrome from August 1942 and delivered mail and food supplies to [[Australian Army|army]] and RAAF outposts, as far afield as the [[Wessel Islands]].

In 1945, the Department of Aviation made [[RAAF Base Darwin|RAAF Darwin]] available for [[Darwin International Airport|shared civil aviation purposes]] and as a result, the civilian airport at Parap was closed down by the end of 1946.

==Airfield details==
The main runway was in the location of present-day Ross Smith Avenue, in the suburb of Parap.

==See also==
* [[List of airports in the Northern Territory]]

<!-- ==References== -->

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080912084528/http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/heritage/visit/qantas/ Qantas Empire Airways Ltd Hangar – NT Heritage Listing]
* [http://www.ozatwar.com/airfields/parapairfield.htm Oz at War Website]

{{Portal bar|Royal Australian Air Force|Aviation}}
{{Airports in Australia}}
{{Airports in the Northern Territory}}
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{{Darwin, Northern Territory landmarks}}

[[Category:Former Royal Australian Air Force bases]]
[[Category:Transport in Darwin, Northern Territory]]
[[Category:Defunct airports in the Northern Territory]]
[[Category:World War II airfields in Australia]]
[[Category:Airports established in 1919]]


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