Local Government
Wyndham-East Kimberley
Region
Kimberley
Anjo Peninsula Doongan
17/3/2004 NW of Kalumburu Mission. EW.
ANJO
Wyndham-East Kimberley
Kimberley
Constructed from 1944
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHP - To be assessed | Current | 12 Mar 2004 |
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | ||||
| Classified by the National Trust | Classified | 01 Nov 1993 | ||
| Register of the National Estate | Indicative Place | |||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 20 Feb 1997 | ||
The place has rarity value as it played a significant role in World War II. It is also the closest airbase to Kava, Timor, and Borneo.
The place has historical significance due to its role in World War II as well as the numerous relic crash sites.
The place has social value as a meeting is held regularly on the 20th May (the date of a Liberator crash which failed to take off killing 11) paying tribute to the Truscott personnel.
Truscott Base contains an airfield, bomber relic at the end of the airfield, and a bitumen road leading to the beach where beach supplies were landed. The base also contains many airplane crash relics relating to the defence of the area in 1944.
The Anjo Peninsular is the closest part of Australia to Java and therefore was studied by the RAAF as a site for an airfield. On January 1st, 1944, W/Cdr Rooney, S/Ldr Chesterfield and F/lt marshall inspected the selected airfield and camp site. Sgt Castle and Sgt Bill Martin remained at the site to act as coastal watchers until the forward party arrived. A few weeks later in mid-January 1944, Sgts. Castle and Martin heard a diesel motor out to sea. They reported their story to the Northwest Headquarters who thought that it may have been a Japanese submarine (on the surface recharging its batteries). After the war it was discovered that Lt Mizuno lead a special reconnaissance party from Timor on board a fishing vessel. They landed after entering an inlet on the West Australian coast. They took 8mm film. They had landed only 25kms from the RAAF, later named Truscott Airbase which was to be built several weeks later. The Airbase was named Truscott in memory of squadron leader ‘Bluey’ Truscott who was killed in the Exmouth Gulf on the 28th of March 1943. The Airbase was to allow medium and heavy bombers to attack Borneo, Java, Timor and the Celebes.
High
Fair
| Name | Type | Year From | Year To |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAAF | Architect | - | - |
Individual Building or Group
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Present Use | Transport\Communications | Air: Control Tower |
| Original Use | Transport\Communications | Rail: Housing or Quarters |
| Original Use | Transport\Communications | Air: Other |
| Original Use | Transport\Communications | Air: Hangar |
| Original Use | Transport\Communications | Air: 0ffice or Administration Bldg |
| Original Use | MILITARY | Other |
| General | Specific |
|---|---|
| TRANSPORT & COMMUNICATIONS | Air transport |
| OUTSIDE INFLUENCES | World Wars & other wars |
This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.