FINDING BRISBANE’S LOST WW2 AIRFIELD, HIDDEN IN SUBURBIA!
I travel to Gailes, west of Brisbane to find a forgotten WW2 Emergency Airfield. It was thought to have been swallowed up by suburban housing, but the middle section of the airstrip is still there.
Between 1948-50 I lived with my family at the old Wacol aliens camp. The watch towers were still there and the bathroom/toilet facilities were a communal affair as was on bases in the 60s.
Getting to the point I can’t remember exactly where it was but went to an airstrip where gilder training was taking place. The gliders were winch launched. The were two gliders in use, one was very basic a open central structure with the wings mounted on top and the empannage attached to the rear. The pilot sat on a seat in the open with basic controls.I can’t remember it ever doing a circuit but only straight ahead flight.
The second glider was fully enclosed and was regularly doing circuits.
Now that is a long time ago so some of the details may not be accurate.
Maybe someone else may have more info or memories of this as well.