Bundaberg Airport
Bundaberg Airport is a regional airport serving Bundaberg, a city in the Australian state of Queensland. It is located southwest of the city centre, on North Childers Road and Takalvan Street. The airport is owned and operated by the Bundaberg Regional Council. It is also known as Bundaberg Regional Airport.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service has one of its nine Queensland bases at Bundaberg Airport.
The Bundaberg Regional Council conducted major works on the runway, terminal, carpark and navigation aids in 2009–10 in an attempt to attract services using A320/737 type aircraft.
History
The airport was officially opened on 12 December 1931, by the Minister for Trade and Customs, the Hon. Frank Forde, M.H.R., as a civilian airport. The airport was renamed in 1936 to Hinkler Airport after Bundaberg's famous aviator Bert HinklerWorld War II
With the outbreak of World War II, it was decided as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme to requisition Bundaberg Airport and develop it as a Royal Australian Air Force Flying Training School.Known as RAAF Station Bundaberg it was initially used in 1941 by No. 12 Elementary Flying Training School RAAF, until 12 EFTS relocated to Lowood Aerodrome on 12 January 1942. No. 8 Service Flying Training School RAAF then operated from the base.
Units Based at Bundaberg
- No. 32 Squadron RAAF – 1 May 1943 – 4 September 1944
- No. 66 Squadron RAAF – 20 May 1943 – 6 January 1944
- No. 71 Squadron RAAF – 1 May 1942 – 26 January 1943
- No. 8 Service Flying Training School RAAF – 14 December 1941 – 25 July 1945
- No. 12 Elementary Flying Training School RAAF – 16 October 1941 – 12 January 1942
- No. 88 Operational Base Unit RAAF – 14 June 1945 – 26 April 1946
- Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force Personnel & equipment pool – 25 June 1945 – 26 April 1946.