The RAAF also operates the Learmonth Air Weapons Range which covers about 18,954 ha (46,840 acres) and is located 30 km (19 mi) south-west of the airbase.[2]
During World War II a little-known landing field was constructed on the western shore of Exmouth Gulf. It was code-named "Potshot" and maintained by No. 76 Operational Base Unit, in support of Operation Potshot. In the 1950s the landing field was further developed as a military base and named RAAF Learmonth in honour of Wing Commander Charles LearmonthDFC and Bar, who, while leading No. 14 Squadron, was killed in a flying accident off Rottnest Island, Western Australia on 6 January 1944.[3]
Starting in June 1944, Qantas used Learmonth as an intermediate stop for two converted Consolidated Liberatorbombers that flew a segment of the vital England–Australia air route, supplementing modified Consolidated PBY Catalinas flying The Double Sunrise route to Ceylon. The Liberators flew a shorter 4,952-kilometre (3,077 mi) over-water route from Learmonth to an airfield northeast of Colombo, and could make the journey in 17 hours with 2,500 kilograms (5,500 lb) of payload, whereas the Catalinas usually required at least 27 hours and had to carry so much auxiliary fuel that their payload was limited to only 450 kilograms (1,000 lb). The route was named Kangaroo Service and marked the first time that Qantas's now-famous kangaroo logo was used; passengers received a certificate proclaiming them as members of The Order of the Longest Hop.[4] Qantas would again use the base, much later, during the emergency landing of Qantas Flight 72.
In the mid-1960s, the Federal Government gave its support to plans by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air MarshalVal Hancock, to redevelop Learmonth as a bare base, due to its proximity to Indonesia. Though F-111Cs could have made a round-trip to Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, from RAAF Base Darwin, the route they took would have been very much limited by range. Learmonth's relative proximity added flexibility to the routes in and out, enhancing the likelihood of a successful strike.[5] The major work was undertaken by No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron between 1971 and 1973.[6]
In October 2022, Qantas announced they would be servicing Melbourne-Exmouth flights for the first time from April to October 2023.[7][8]
^"Learmonth Air Weapons Range Facility, Learmonth". Commonwealth heritage places in Western Australia. Department of the Environment and Energy, Australian Government. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
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This article is about the military air base For the civilian aerodrome see Learmonth Airport RAAF Base Learmonth also known as Learmonth Airport IATA LEA ICAO YPLM is a joint use Royal Australian Air Force base and civil airport It is located near the town of Exmouth on the north west coast of Western Australia RAAF Base Learmonth is one of the RAAF s three bare bases It is maintained by the RAAF s 25 Squadron and a small caretaker staff during peacetime RAAF Base LearmonthNear Exmouth Western Australia in AustraliaRAAF LearmonthYPLMLocation in Western AustraliaCoordinates22 14 09 S 114 05 19 E 22 23583 S 114 08861 E 22 23583 114 08861TypeMilitary air baseSite informationOwnerDepartment of DefenceOperator Royal Australian Air ForceWebsiteRAAF Base LearmonthSite historyIn usecirca 1950s presentGarrison informationOccupants Bare base Airfield informationIdentifiersIATA LEA ICAO YPLMElevation6 metres 19 ft AMSLRunwaysDirection Length and surface18 36 3 047 metres 9 997 ft asphalt concreteSources Australian AIP and aerodrome chart 1 Commonwealth Heritage ListOfficial nameLearmonth Air Weapons Range FacilityTypeListed place Historic Designated22 June 2004Reference no 105551 The RAAF also operates the Learmonth Air Weapons Range which covers about 18 954 ha 46 840 acres and is located 30 km 19 mi south west of the airbase 2 Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory editDuring World War II a little known landing field was constructed on the western shore of Exmouth Gulf It was code named Potshot and maintained by No 76 Operational Base Unit in support of Operation Potshot In the 1950s the landing field was further developed as a military base and named RAAF Learmonth in honour of Wing Commander Charles Learmonth DFC and Bar who while leading No 14 Squadron was killed in a flying accident off Rottnest Island Western Australia on 6 January 1944 3 Starting in June 1944 Qantas used Learmonth as an intermediate stop for two converted Consolidated Liberator bombers that flew a segment of the vital England Australia air route supplementing modified Consolidated PBY Catalinas flying The Double Sunrise route to Ceylon The Liberators flew a shorter 4 952 kilometre 3 077 mi over water route from Learmonth to an airfield northeast of Colombo and could make the journey in 17 hours with 2 500 kilograms 5 500 lb of payload whereas the Catalinas usually required at least 27 hours and had to carry so much auxiliary fuel that their payload was limited to only 450 kilograms 1 000 lb The route was named Kangaroo Service and marked the first time that Qantas s now famous kangaroo logo was used passengers received a certificate proclaiming them as members of The Order of the Longest Hop 4 Qantas would again use the base much later during the emergency landing of Qantas Flight 72 In the mid 1960s the Federal Government gave its support to plans by the Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Val Hancock to redevelop Learmonth as a bare base due to its proximity to Indonesia Though F 111Cs could have made a round trip to Indonesia s capital Jakarta from RAAF Base Darwin the route they took would have been very much limited by range Learmonth s relative proximity added flexibility to the routes in and out enhancing the likelihood of a successful strike 5 The major work was undertaken by No 5 Airfield Construction Squadron between 1971 and 1973 6 In October 2022 Qantas announced they would be servicing Melbourne Exmouth flights for the first time from April to October 2023 7 8 See also editList of airports in Western Australia List of Royal Australian Air Force installationsReferences edit YPLM Learmonth PDF AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia effective 21 March 2024 Aeronautical Chart Archived 11 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine Learmonth Air Weapons Range Facility Learmonth Commonwealth heritage places in Western Australia Department of the Environment and Energy Australian Government Retrieved 4 December 2010 Baker H W Atkinson Basil 18 January 1954 A Valiant Deed Off Rottnest Gave Learmonth Its Name The West Australian National Library of Australia p 3 Retrieved 2 November 2011 Thirty Years of Qantas Flight Vol LVIII no 2182 London 16 November 1950 Retrieved 6 April 2018 Kopp Carlo May 2003 Three decades of the F 111 PDF DefenceTODAY Archived from the original PDF on 7 May 2012 Stephens Alan 2006 2001 The Royal Australian Air Force A History London Oxford University Press pp 283 286 ISBN 0 19 555541 4 East Coast to Coral Coast Qantas opens first direct Melbourne Exmouth flights qantas com 14 October 2022 Retrieved 1 June 2023 New direct Qantas flights from Melbourne to Exmouth Government of Western Australia 14 October 2022 Archived from the original on 14 October 2022 Retrieved 1 June 2023 External links editRAAF Base Learmonth at airforce gov au Learmonth at RAAF Museum Learmonth RAAF Base in WA image ABC News Australia 15 January 2014 Portals nbsp Royal Australian Air Force nbsp Western Australia nbsp Aviation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title RAAF Base Learmonth amp oldid 1212970132, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
