Comments on: Spitfire Memorial

By: NeilEnnis

NeilEnnis — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 00:18:09 +0000

In reply to John.

Hi John
Thanks for the comments and the fascinating story.
Sometimes I wish I had a time machine so I could see some of these events 🙂
Neil

By: John

John — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 00:05:08 +0000

Well said. There is a lot of aviation history in SE Qld. I live in Woody Pt, and there is the famous incident when an American B17, lost in heavy rain landed in what is now Decker park, just over the southern end of the Houghton highway.It was stripped of excess weight and took of a couple of days later just clearing the Hornibrook highway bridge pylons as it headed to Amberley or Archerfield, I’m not sure which. That area at the time was an RAAF station, but not an airfield.
At the same place opposite what was until recently, Eventide retirement village, two US P39 Airocobras which took off from the strip that you depicted,crashed into the muddy low tide, a couple of hours apart.
The first pilot was beating up the RAAF station(a common practice) and turned too steeply and went in.
A few hours later in the afternoon, a second P39 from the same unit power dived into the site of the first impact.It was said he was a buddy of the first pilot.

By: michael

michael — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 12:26:10 +0000

Both airmen are buried at Lutwich cemetery side by side.

By: Spitfires over Lawnton « Musings

Spitfires over Lawnton « Musings — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:54:40 +0000

[…] people are aware of the “Spitfire Avenue” Airstrip, also known as the A2 Strip in Strathpine. It was paved, and used […]