Prior to 1939,
Thursday Island (to the north-west of Horn Island) had a small airstrip on the north side of the island. It was long and . As it was not possible to extend it, in 1939 it was decided that for both civilian and military purposes, a larger airstrip should be built on Horn Island.
World War II The
Civil Constructional Corps and the
Department of Main Roads began construction of an advanced operational airbase on the island during
World War II, commencing in 1940. RAAF Base Horn Island was completed in 1941 and was used as a staging base for
Allied aircraft moving between Australia and
New Guinea. The airfield consisted of two intersecting runways, with
revetments for aircraft parking.
Japanese bombing raids against Horn Island Aerodrome After
Darwin, Horn Island was the second-most bombed area of Australia by the Japanese in World War II. • 14 March 1942 • 18 March 1942 • 30 April 1942 • 11 May 1942 • 6 July 1942 • 30 July 1942 • 1 August 1942 • 17 June 1943
Units based at Horn Island Aerodrome The units were: •
7th Fighter Squadron of
49th Fighter Group, March 1942 – 18 April 1942 (
Curtiss P-40s) •
No. 6 Squadron RAAF •
No. 7 Squadron RAAF •
No. 24 Squadron RAAF •
No. 32 Squadron RAAF •
No. 75 Squadron RAAF •
No. 84 Squadron RAAF •
No. 28 Operational Base Unit RAAF Memorial The Horn Island Veterans Memorial in front of the airport commemorates the American and Australian servicemen who fought and died in the defence of Horn Island and the Torres Strait during World War II. It was designed by Vanessa Seekee OAM and Gordon Cameron OAM from local materials. ==Airlines and destinations==