Gould Airfield was constructed approximately 4.5 kilometres south of Batchelor in the Northern Territory during the Second World War. Its close physical and operational connection with Batchelor meant that it formed part of the airfield network supporting No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAF and other Allied units operating from the area.
No. 18 Squadron’s principal base was Batchelor, but Gould provided additional space for aircraft dispersal, servicing, maintenance and other supporting activities. The two airfields were connected through their taxiway systems, allowing aircraft to be moved between the operational and support areas.
Construction of Gould Airfield
Gould Airfield and its associated camp were constructed by No. 61 Works Wing RAAF. Work began in 1943 and was completed during 1944.
The airfield included:
- a runway approximately 6,000 feet—or 1,829 metres—long;
- taxiways connecting operational and dispersal areas;
- revetted aircraft bays;
- building and machinery foundations;
- drainage infrastructure; and
- anti-aircraft defence positions.
The layout was designed to disperse aircraft and supporting facilities over a wide area. This reduced congestion and limited the damage that might be caused by an enemy attack on the principal Batchelor base.
Connection with Batchelor
Gould was immediately south of Batchelor and formed part of an interconnected wartime aviation complex. The two airfields were closely integrated through their taxiway and aircraft dispersal systems.
Wartime plans show that the northern taxiway system at Gould connected with Batchelor’s southern aircraft dispersal and taxiway areas. This allowed aircraft to be moved between the two fields without relying entirely upon public roads.
Batchelor remained the principal operational base, while Gould offered additional runway, aircraft parking, dispersal and support capacity.
No. 18 Squadron and Gould
No. 18 Squadron moved from McDonald Airfield to Batchelor in May 1943. Its Dutch, Indonesian and Australian personnel operated B-25 Mitchell bombers against Japanese shipping, airfields and military installations throughout the eastern Netherlands East Indies.
The squadron’s operations placed heavy demands upon its aircraft and maintenance personnel. Long missions over water, tropical weather, battle damage and the difficulty of obtaining replacement parts all contributed to the maintenance burden.
Gould’s proximity and supporting facilities enabled some servicing, maintenance and aircraft dispersal associated with No. 18 Squadron to take place away from Batchelor’s main operational area.
Gould was also used by other RAAF units. It therefore formed part of a shared Allied aviation complex rather than a separate Dutch base.
A wider maintenance and operational network
Gould should be understood alongside the other airfields that supported No. 18 Squadron:
- McDonald Airfield was the squadron’s first operational base in the Northern Territory;
- Batchelor Airfield became its principal Australian operational base;
- Gould Airfield provided nearby dispersal and support capacity; and
- Pell Airfield offered specialist repair, servicing and salvage facilities.
Aircraft could also use other Northern Territory fields because of bad weather, congestion, mechanical problems, fuel shortages or operational requirements.
This network allowed No. 18 Squadron to continue operating despite the difficult conditions and limited infrastructure of northern Australia.
Surviving wartime remains
Significant elements of Gould Airfield survive in the landscape. The runway, taxiways, revetted aircraft positions, building and machinery foundations, drainage systems and anti-aircraft defence positions remain sufficiently intact to demonstrate how the wartime airfield functioned.
The site is included on the Northern Territory Heritage Register. Its surviving remains provide physical evidence of the extensive infrastructure developed to support Allied air operations from the Top End.
Gould is also an important part of the Dutch–Australian wartime story. Although No. 18 Squadron was based at Batchelor, its operations depended upon supporting airfields, engineering facilities and personnel spread across the surrounding area.
Related DACC articles
- WWII airfields in the Top End used by the Dutch
- The Dutch at Batchelor Airport in the Northern Territory
- Pell Airfield: maintenance and emergency support for No. 18 Squadron
- No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron moves to McDonald Airfield, 1942–1943
- The 18 Netherlands East Indies Squadron RAAF
- DACC Research Portal—Dutch and Netherlands East Indies Air Forces in Australia during World War II
Sources and further reading
O.G. Ward, De Militaire Luchtvaart van het KNIL in de jaren 1942–1945, National Library of Australia catalogue record.
Northern Territory Heritage Register—WWII Gould Airfield
Australian War Memorial—No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron
See also:
Dutch WWII Casualties from air operation from the Northern Territory
The18 Squadron NEI RAAF moves to McDonald Airfield, NT
The Dutch at Batchelor Airport in the Northern Territory
