Airport type Public Elevation AMSL 454 ft / 138 m 1,000 3,281 Elevation 138 m | Location Nhill, Victoria 09/27 1,000 3,281 Asphalt Operator Shire of Hindmarsh | |
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Nhill Airport (ICAO: YNHL) is located 1 nautical mile (1.9 km; 1.2 mi) northwest of Nhill, Victoria, Australia, about four hours northwest of Melbourne. The Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre is located there.
Contents
World War II
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) commandeered the airfield during World War II.
No. 1 Operational Training Unit
No. 1 Operational Training Unit (1OTU) provided advanced operational flying and instruction. Formed on 22 December 1941, the unit was temporary housed at Nhill until RAAF East Sale at Sale, Victoria became available. Due to operational requirements the RAAF relocated 1OTU to RAAF Bairnsdale at Bairnsdale, Victoria in June 1942.
No. 2 Air Navigation School
No. 2 Air Navigation School relocated to Nhill from RAAF Mount Gambier at Mount Gambier, South Australia in September 1941. The Commanding Officer was Wing Commander A.G. Carr (AFC). Airplanes used to train pilots in air navigation were Fairey Battles, Tiger Moths, Wirraways, Oxfords, Beauforts and Hudsons.
RAAF Armament School
On 13 December 1943 the RAAF Armament School relocated from Hamilton to Nhill. The commanding officer was Wing Commander A.D. Garrison. Renamed as the Air Armament School on 15 January 1944 and later to the Air Armament and Gas School.
Proposed USAAF camp
A USAAF advance flying unit camp was proposed in early 1942. Although buildings were constructed, the camp was never used.
Post-war
In 2008 the process began to create the Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre. As of 2017 it is restoring an Avro Anson and looking to purchase a CAC Wirraway.