The Aerodrome and the RAAF base
RAAF Station Evans Head
The story begins in 1936, before the start of World War 2, when the Woodburn Shire Council constructed an emergency landing ground at Evans Head, to the north of the small town. Following the outbreak of war, the airfield was upgraded, to become the home to No.1 Bombing and Gunnery School (No.1 BAGS).
Circa 1940-1941, Fairey Battles lined up, hangars still under construction. In the foreground is a Movietone news crew with camera on top of the car.
By 1942 the base had expanded to accommodate more than 70 aircraft, the trainees and all the personnel required to maintain it, and the airfield now had 4 intersecting runways. Fairey Battle aircraft were the mainstay, with other aircraft visiting for practice from RAAF Amberley base in Queensland.
In 1943, No.1 BAGS had supplied sufficient training for the war effort, and it was disbanded, with more than 5000 people having been stationed there. The base continued operations, with the transfer from Cootamundra of the No.1 Air Observers School (AOS) in December 1943. There were in total, 1496 personnel and trainees. Avro Anson aircraft were used for much of the training. The AOS was disbanded in August 1945 when the war in the Pacific was over.
The base was also used by the No.52 Anti-Submarine Squadron.
Altogether 5,500 men and women trained here in the Empire Air Training Scheme before leaving for theatres of war in Europe and the Pacific.
Wing Commander Valston Hancock
The key person in the development of the RAAF base was Wing Commander Valston Hancock. He was responsible for the selection, surveying and development of the site and commanded No.1 BAGS.
Late in the war, he gained command of No.100 squadron, active in the Pacific theatre. A long and distinguished career followed – he was promoted to Chief of Air Staff, eventually retiring in 1965.
There is a street in Evans Head near the aerodrome named in his honour.
Post War
In 1947, the Department of Civil Aviation took over responsibility for the aerodrome. For a while there was commercial activity. Butler Air Transport, a major NSW regional airline, commenced services from Sydney, via Coffs Harbour to Evans Head. A bus service ran from the aerodrome and town, via Woodburn and Coraki, to the major regional town of Lismore. In 1959, the service was moved to Casino, the aerodrome was largely dormant and most of the buildings were disposed of. In 1985, a temporary closure of the Casino airport saw an extension to the north-south runway to accommodate commercial flights of Fokker F27 ‘Friendship’ turbo-prop aircraft.
Butler Air Transport DC-3 at Evans Head with the bus which ran to Lismore, via Woodburn and Coraki. In the background is an Avro Anson. Photo: donated by Pat Rawle, Evans Head (former Butler hostess).
The aerodrome has been used for decades by private aviators for light aircraft and emergency services. It also accommodates the Aviation Museum and the Evans Head Men’s Shed.. Until recently, it was the venue for the annual Great Eastern Fly-In.
Evans Head is listed with Air Services Australia as an uncontrolled aerodrome, abbreviation YEVD, with only runway 18/36 open for piloted aircraft.
The Evans Head Weapons Range
The Weapons Range south of the town also began during the war. The weapons range was first officially designated by Governor General McKell as a bombing, air gunnery and rocket firing range on July 13, 1949. Air Force has used it since then as a primary training area for military aircraft. The Canberra Bomber operated there in the 1950-60s followed by the F-111 from 1972 to 2010. Today there is only one observation tower overlooking a gunnery target area, south of the township and north of the Jerusalem Creek entrance. The range is used mainly for gunnery practice by F/A-18F Super Hornet and F-35A Lighting II aircraft.
There was also a northern range area during the war as well as a southern ‘sea leg’ and there were several observation posts. Very little evidence of these remains.
Plan your visit
Aircraft Collection
The Museum Association
