On The Homefront: Defence

Redbank Army Camp
Today, only a few scattered remains indicate the location of the huge Redbank Army camp of World War II. The brick steps which once led to the Canteen now lead nowhere and are being overwhelmed by a fig tree. A curved brick wall near a modem piggery was once the pistol and small arms range and the magazine sits isolated in the middle of a paddock. Only the curved "igloos" and Nissen Huts at the old Stores Depot give some indication that a huge army camp was once sited nearby.

Work on Redbank camp began in October 1939, soon after war was declared. Workmen from Ipswich began building huts while Moreton Shire Council sealed a road from the railway station to the camp site. The first contingent of 400 men marched in on October 21 and the initial quota of 2500 was reached soon afterwards. At this stage, 12 huts were ready but 60 were completed within two weeks. The recruits did not get uniforms for several weeks but nevertheless began learning the basics of soldiering - marching, drill and saluting. By November 7, Redbank Camp was described as a small township with wooden huts, mess rooms, kitchens and ablution benches. There was also a hospital where the men were immediately given typhus injections. Sick soldiers were also treated there, including an epidemic of a cough christened "The Redbank Bark".

A large entertainment room held 1000 men with space for a barber's shop and library. The Salvation Army also opened a recreation hut with a radio , piano, library and games. The camp held open days for relatives and men were able to go out on leave to Ipswich, Brisbane or Redbank.

Amberley
In 1938, the Commonwealth Government acquired an 800-acre site on the outskirts of Ipswich to construct an aerodrome. The name RAAF Station Amberley was adopted - the name of the home town of pioneer farmer James Edwin Collett who arrived in this area from East Sussex in the 1850s. The land was cleared, a small strip was made on the southern end and the first aircraft was flown in - a DH87A Hornet Moth used by the contractors.

Amberley commenced operations as an RAAF base on 17 June 1940 with the formation of Station headquarters and No 24 General Purpose Squadron. The first Commanding Officer was Squadron Leader S.A.C. Campbell. A few weeks later, No 3 Recruit Depot unit was formed and the first RAAF plane arrived on July 4 1940, a Moth Minor of the No 24 Squadron. The first Commanding Officer was Squadron Leader S.A.C Campbell. A few weeks later, No 3 Recruit Depot unit was formed and the first RAAF plane arrived on July 4 1940, a Moth Minor of the No 24 Squadron. Several Wirraways arrived a few days later. No 24 Squadron did not stay long at Amberley but moved to Townsville and was re-equipped with Hudson bombers.

In October, the interim Headquarters Station was absorbed into a new No 3 Service Flying Training School (SFTS). This unit had an initial strength of 12 officers and 228 airmen. Amberley then was the site for No 3 Recruit Depot and No 2 SFTS and its focus was training and recruiting until 1942. In this time, 500 aircrew received their initial training. The aircraft used initially were Wirraways and Ansons, and the Wirraways gradually being transferred to other units.

The role of Amberley changed after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour on 15 December 1941. Personnel of the United States Air Corp began to arrive almost immediately and throughout the rest of December, Australians and Americans at Amberley began to assemble Kittyhawk and Douglas Dauntless aircraft. During 1942, Amberley became home to up to 1000 Americans and assumed the role of assembling, maintaining and salvaging aircraft. It also serviced operational squadrons and was used as a staging post for units moving into the Pacific war zone. In mid-1942 , the personnel of the new No 3 Aircraft Depot assembled 123 P39 Aircobra fighter aircraft. As the war intensified, more American and Australian units were attached to Amberley, with some of the units later being transferred on to Lowood airbase. By early 1943, there were 2290 personnel at Amberley.

In early 1948, Amberley officially began its permanent post-war war role as the RAAF's major base for bomber aircraft operations. At this time , it was equipped with Lincoln aircraft. From July 1950 to January 1958 , aircraft from No 1 Squadron were sent to Singapore Island and operated from there against the Malayan terrorists. Also in the 1950s, Nos 2 and 6 Squadrons were equipped with Canberra aircraft - the first jet bombers used in Australia.