Caversham Airfield | |
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Summary | |
Location | Caversham, Western Australia |
Coordinates | 31°50′16″S 115°58′27″E / 31.83778°S 115.97417°E |
Map | |
Caversham Airfield, also known as Middle Swan Airfield was an airfield constructed at Caversham, Western Australia during World War II as a parent aerodrome for use by the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm and the United States Navy. [1]
The airfield had a triangle of three landing strips. [1] [2]
Middle Swan was the parent airfield with the following satellite airfields:
The United States Army Air Corps also utilised the airfield during World War II.
It was also a gliding club location after the war. [3] [4]
Location | Caversham, Western Australia |
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Owner | Department of Defence |
Operator | Western Australia Sporting Car Club |
Opened | 1946 |
Closed | 1968 |
Major events |
Australian Grand Prix Australian Drivers' Champ. Six Hour Le Mans |
Length | 3.50 km (2.18 miles) |
Turns | 10 |
The airfield was later utilised as a motor racing circuit, hosting its first event in 1946. [5] In 1956 the Western Australia Sporting Car Club gained a lease for the property, which was then converted into a permanent circuit. [1] It became Western Australia's premier motor racing venue, hosting the Australian Grand Prix in 1957 and 1962 [6] and the Six Hour Le Mans endurance race from 1955 to 1968. [5] Racing activities ceased when the airfield was re-activated as a military facility for radio communications, [6] and Western Australian racing shifted to Wanneroo Raceway in 1969. [5]