About This Unit
Radar Stations
The RAAF established Radar Stations during WW2, in Australia and New Guinea in order to provide early warning of enemy air attack and to a lesser extent seaborne attack, around the coastline and key inland installations. A list of these and their locationss, which often varied over time as they were relocated for a variety of reasons, is shown below.
Equipment was obtained from a number of sources including the UK and Canada. Some US installations later complemented the RAAF stations.
This description is typical of many of the radar units; (ex Wikipedia)
Originally this mobile Ground Control Interception (GCI) unit, made up of British Mark V equipment, was housed on the back of 4x4 Crossley trucks, camouflaged underneath netted canopies. In August 1942, 131 Radar Station was moved to Beverley Park at Kogarah and then on to Kyeemagh where a series of test flights were logged to assess the performance of the equipment and the skills of the operating staff. In September 1942, the mobile unit received instructions and were transferred to Ash Island to be responsible for the protection of Newcastle.
Upon arrival on Ash Island, the operating staff were met with swampland, mangroves and mosquitoes. Although facilities were limited, the Island was an ideal location for 131 Radar Station because the surrounding water was a good reflector, assisting the radar to detect any aircraft.
By late 1942, Ash Island, although fairly typical of small RAAF stations on the coast, had become a permanent radar post and the operating staff was at full strength (two Commanding Officers, 25 RAAF and 22 Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF)). On 16 December 1942, 131 Radar Station commenced 24-hour watch and by the end of January 1943, the new Mark V transmitter and receiver, the latest equipment and technology from Canada, arrived at Ash Island in preparation for the construction of galvanized "Doover" huts (a half-mile north west of the camp) to house the station.
By February 1943, the WAAAF complement at 131 Radar Station outnumbered the RAAF contingent for the first time and included many of the first group of WAAAF radar operators trained at Richmond.
Also in February 1943, the Crossley trucks that had housed the mobile GCI units left Ash Island for Maroubra and the construction of the two concrete igloos, with walls one foot thick, was underway. The almost impenetrable igloos were British in design and were intended to be built as underground bunkers. However, in Australia, these buildings were constructed above ground but disguised with netting.
No. 7 Radar Station - Parafield, SA, Wedge Island, SA
No. 10 Radar Station - Victor Harbour, SA Yankalilla, SA
No. 13 Radar Station - Cape Otway, VIC
No. 14 Radar Station - Wilson's Promontory, VIC
No. 15 Radar Station - Laverton, VIC, Netung, VIC
No. 16 Radar Station - Gabo Island, VIC
No. 17 Radar Station - Moruya, NSW
No. 18 Radar Station - Kiama, NSW
No. 19 Radar Station - Bombi, NSW
No. 20 Radar Station - Nelsons's Bay, NSW
No. 23 Radar Station - Lytton, QLD
No. 24 Radar Station - Sandgate, QLD, Caloundra, QLD
No. 25 Radar Station - (renamed No. 167) - Mascot, NSW, Bundaberg, QLD, Sandy Cape - QLD
No. 26 Radar Station - Cape Cleveland, QLD
No. 27 Radar Station - Townsville, QLD, Dunk Island, QLD
No. 28 Radar Station - Cairns, QLD, Fitzroy Island, QLD
No. 29 Radar Station - Port Morseby, NG
No. 31 Radar Station - (became No. 310) Darwin, NT, Point Charles, NT, Fenton, NT, Exmouth Gulf
No. 32 Radar Station - Fremantle, WA, Rottnest Island, WA
No. 33 Radar Station - Pearce, WA, Cape Naturaliste, WA
No. 35 Radar Station - Subiaco, WA, Albany, WA
No. 36 Radar Station - Thursday Island, QLD Hammond Island, QLD, Horne Island, QLD
No. 37 Radar Station - Port Moresby, NG, Fall River, NG
No. 38 Radar Station - Darwin, NT, Bathurst Island, NT
No. 39 Radar Station - Darwin, NT, Port Keats, NT
No. 40 Radar Station - Merauke, Dutch NG
No. 42 Radar Station - (became No. 55) Mascot, NSW, Bowen, QLD
No. 43 Radar Station, - Townsville, QLD, Portland Roads, QLD
No. 44 Radar Station - (became No. 56) Townsville, QLD Cooktown, QLD
No. 45 Radar Station - Cloncurry, QLD, Townsville, QLD, Stanley Island, QLD, Richmond, NSW
No. 46 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Cape Don, NT
No. 47 Radar Station - Pearce, WA, Gin Gin, WA, Kalamunda, WA, Geraldton, WA
No. 48 Radar Station - Subiaco, WA, Jurian Bay, WA
No. 49 Radar Station - Sandgate, QLD, Point Lookout, QLD
No. 50 Radar Station - Townsville, QLD, Dobodura, NG, Tsili Tsili, NG, Ainami, NG Tadji, NG
No. 51 Radar Station - Sandgate, QLD, Coolangatta, QLD
No. 52 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Townsville, QLD, Muttee Head, QLD
No. 53 Radar Station - Richmond, NSW, Mount Surprise, QLD, Pitt Town, NSW
No. 54 Radar Station - Collaroy, NSW (renamed from No. 10)
No. 55 Radar Station - (was No. 44) Bowen, QLD
No. 56 Radar Station - (was No. 44) Cooktown, QLD
No. 57 Radar Station - (was No. 104) Townsville, QLD
No. 58 Radar Station - Camden, NSW, Mascot, NSW, Paluma, QLD
No. 59 Radar Station - Lee Point, NT
No. 60 Radar Station - 59 Mile, NT, Cape Van Diemen, NT
No. 61 Radar Station - (was No. 307) Perron Island, NT
No. 101 Radar Station - Sydney, NSW, Collaroy, NSW, (became No. 54)
No. 102 Radar Station - Coolangatta, QLD
No. 103 Radar Station - Dulwich (Dunwich?), QLD
No. 104 Radar Station - (became No. 57) Townsville, QLD
No. 105 Radar Station - Point Charles, NT
No. 107 Radar Station - Cloncurry, QLD
No. 108 Radar Station - Cloncurry, QLD
No, 109 Radar Station - (was No. 44) Darwin, NT
No. 131 Radar Station - Richmond, NSW, Kogarah, NSW, Kyeemagh, NSW, Ash Island, NSW
No. 132 Radar Station - Richmond, NSW, Darwin, NT
No. 134 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Maroubra, NSW, Beverley Hills, NSW
No. 135 Radar Station - Sandgate, QLD, Pinkenba, QLD
No. 136 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Bunnerong Park, NSW, Alligator River, QLD
No. 138 Radar Station - Croydon, NSW, Townsville, QLD, Port Morseby, NG, Dobodura, NG
No. 144 Radar Station - Subiaco, WA, Cannington, WA
No. 150 Radar Station - Laverton, VIC, Darwin, NT, Adelaide River, NT, Berrimah, NT
No. 151 Radar Station - Richmond, NSW, Townsville, QLD, Cairns, QLD, Merauke, Dutch NG
No. 152 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Sydney, NSW, Finschhafen, NG, Tadji, NG
No. 153 Radar Station, Mascot, NSW, Sydney, NSW, Port Morseby, NG, Finshhafen, NG, Memote, Admiralty Islands
No. 154 Radar Station - Richmond, NSW, Anjo, WA, Truscott, WA
No. 155 Radar Station - Richmond, NSW, Ash Island, NSW, Perth, WA,, Fremantle, WA, Exmouth Gulf, WA
No. 161 Radar Station - Richmond, NSW, Adelaide River, NT, Anjo, NT, 58 Mile, NT, Sattler, NT, Morotai
No. 162 Radar Station - Richmond, NSW, Bankstown, NSW, Knuckeys Lagoon, NT, Morotai
No. 163 Radar Station (Training Group) - Richmond, NSW, Sandgate, QLD Melbourne, VIC, Morotai, Labuan, Borneo, Lutong, Borneo, Bankstown, NSW
No. 164 Radar Station - Richmond, NSW, Bankstown, NSW, Bargo, NSW, Menangle, NSW
No. 165 Radar Station - Richmond, NSW, Pitt Town, NSW Bargo, NSW, Quakers Hill, NSW
No. 166 Radar Station - Richmond, NSW, Pitt Town, NSW, Castlereagh, NSW, Sandgate, QLD, Morotai, Labuan, Borneo
No. 167 Radar Station (was No. 25) - Pitt Town, NSW, Strathpine, QLD, Morotai Tarakan, Borneo, Deniliquin, NSW
No. 168 Radar Station - Pitt Town, NSW, Strathpine, QLD, Morotai, Tarakan, Borneo
No. 169 Radar Station - Pitt Town, NSW, Marsden Park, NSW
No. 170 Radar Station - Pitt Town, NSW, Marsden Park, NSW
No. 207 Radar Station - Croydon, NSW, Lilli Pilli, NSW
No. 208 Radar Station - Swansea, NSW
No. 209 Radar Station - Sandgate, QLD, Benowa, QLD
No. 210 Radar Station - Sandgate, QLD, Toorbul, QLD
No. 211 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Home Hill, QLD
No. 220 Radar Station - Camden, NSW, Mascot, NSW, Tolga, QLD
No. 224 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Southport Rd, Darwin, NT
No. 227 Radar Station - Subiaco, WA, Yancep, WA
No. 228 Radar Station - Subiaco, WA, Rockingham, WA
No. 251 Radar Station - Collaroy, NSW
No. 257 Radar Station - Collaroy, NSW, Darwin, NT
No. 301 Radar Station - Townsville, QLD, New Guniea, Richmond, NSW, Finschhafen, NG, Saidor, NG
No. 302 Radar Station - Richmond, NSW, Darwin, NT, Morotai, Balikpapan, Borneo
No. 303 Radar Station - Townsville, QLD, McLaren Harbour, NG, Forduma II, NG, Boirama Island, NG, Milne Bay, NG, Meineiara Island, NG, Port Morseby, NG
No. 304 Radar Station - Townsville, Port Moresby, NG, Normandy Island, NG, Milne Bay, NG, Hood Point, NG
No. 305 Radar Station - Townsville, QLD, Port Moresby, NG, Goodenough, NG, Kiriwina, NG Milne Bay, NG
No. 306 Radar Station - Townsville, QLD, Port Moresby, NG, Bulolo, NG
No. 307 Radar Station (became No. 61) - Mascot, NSW, Darwin, NT, Perron Island, NT
No. 308 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Darwin, NT, Batchelor, NT, Millingimbi, NT, Pitt Town, NSW, Strathpine, QLD, Morotai, Tarakan, Borneo, Deniliquin, NSW
No. 309 Radar Station - Mascot, Darwin, NT, Fenton, NT, Goulburn Island, NT, Marsden Park, NSW, Strathpine, QLD, Morotai, Tarakan, Borneo, Deniliquin, NSW
No. 310 Radar Station (was No. 31) - Exmouth Gulf, WA, Sattler, NT, Darwin, NT, Morotai
No. 311 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Horn Island, QLD, Archer Bay, QLD, Garbutt, QLD, Green Island, QLD, Jacquinot Bay, NB
No. 312 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Horn Island, QLD, Wessel Island, NT, Marsden Park, NSW, Strathpine, QLD, Morotai, Tarakan, Borneo, Deniliquin, NSW
No. 313 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Horn Island, QLD, Mornington Island, QLD, Townsville, QLD, Green Island, QLD, Jacquinot Bay, NB
No. 314 Radar Station - Onslow, WA, Perth, WA
No. 315 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Cape Ward Hunt, NG, Milne Bay, NG, Middleburg Island, NG, Richmond, NSW
No. 316 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Merauke, NG, Kombies, NG, Morotai, Labuan, Borneo, Bankstown, NSW
No. 317 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Old Drysdale, WA, Sir Graham Moore Island
No. 318 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Batchelor, NT, Cape Don, NT, Cape Van Diemen, NT, Richmond, NSW
No. 319 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Fenton, NT, Drysdale, WA, Anjo, WA, Truscott, WA
No. 320 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Mitchell River, QLD, Townsville, QLD, Bougainville, NB
No. 321 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Adelaide River, NT, Millingimbi, NT ,Yirrkala, NT
No. 322 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Tanahnerah, Dutch NG, Pitt Town, NSW
No. 323 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Boepel, NG, Mappi Post, NG, Castlereagh, NSW, Archerfield, QLD, Maura Island, Borneo, Brooketown, Borneo, Bankstown, NSW
No. 324 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Noonkanabah, WA, Yampi Sound, WA, Guildford, WA, Castlereagh, NSW, Archerfield, QLD, Morotai, Labuan, Borneo, Papen Island, Borneo, Bankstown, NSW
No. 325 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Corunna Downs, WA, Guildford, WA, Castlereagh, NSW, Archerfield, QLD, Morotai, Labuan, Borneo, Luting, Borneo, Kiri, Borneo
No. 326 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Broome, WA, Cape Laveque, WA, No. 327 Radar Station, Mascot, NSW, Broome, WA
No. 328 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Red Hill, WA, Port Hedland, WA
No. 336 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Port Moresby, NG, Kiriwina, NG, Safon, NG, Oro Bay, NG
No. 337 Radar Station - Richmond, NSW, Port Moresby, NG, Sia Island, NG, Los Negros, Admiralty Islands, Richmond, NSW
No. 338 Radar Station - Richmond, NSW, Mascot, NSW, Port Moresby, NG, Long Island, NG, Madang, NG
No. 339 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Port Moresby, NG, Yule Island, NG
No. 340 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Port Morseby, NG, Finschhafen, NG, Bat Island, NG, Los Negros, Admiralty Islands, Aitape, NG, Tadji, NG
No. 341 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Mulgrave Island, NG, Richmond, NSW, Pitt Town, NSW
No. 342 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Mount Spec, QLD, Townsville, QLD, Castlereagh, NSW, Archerfield, QLD, Morotai Labuan, Bornneo
No. 343 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, Townsville, QLD, Mount Spec, QLD, Sattler, NT, Morotai, Balikpapan, Borneo
No. 344 Radar Station - Mascot, NSW, 58 Mile, NT, West Montilecit Island, WA, Richmond, NSW
No. 345 Radar Station - Richmond, NSW, Finschhafen, NG, Los Negros, Admiralty Islands, Bipi Island, Admiralty Islands, Harengan Island, Admiralty Islands, Richmond, NSW
No. 346 Radar Station - Richmond, NSW, Finschhafen, NG, Salamai, Admiralty Islands, Bundralis, Admiralty Islands, Los Negros, Admiralty Islands, Madang, NG
No. 347 Radar Station - Richmond, NSW, Milne Bay, NG, Port Moresby, NG, Finschhafen, NG, Los Negros, Admiralty Islands
No. 348 Radar Station - Richmond, NSW, Port Moresby, NG, Tumbo Island, NG, Tadji, NG, Hollandia, NG, Madang, NG
No. 349 Radar Station - Richmond, NSW, Finschhafen, NG, Hansa Bay, NG
No. 350 Radar Station - Richmond, NSW, Finschhafen, NG, Biak, Borneo
No. 351 Radar Station - Richmond, NSW, Darwin, NT, Morotai, Balikpapan, Borneo
No. 352 Radar Station - Richmond, NSW, Sattler, NT, Darwin, NT, Morotai
No. 354 Radar Station - Richmond, NSW, Bankstown, NSW, Bargo, NSW, Strathpine, QLD, Morotai, Tarakan, Borneo
No. 355 Radar Station - Richmond, NSW, Dapto, NSW, Strathpine, QLD, Morotai, Tarakan, Borneo, Sadu Island, Borneo
Compiled by Steve Larkins July 2021
Click images to start slideshow.