Airfields While-you-wait
p. 97 · Read in the full issue
Fine RAAF Effort on Cocos Is.
IF you want something built in a hurry, better get the RAAF to do it.
In just four months No. 2 Air field Construction Squadron, RAAF, has built on Cocos Island (Indian Ocean) a 10,000-ft. long airstrip capable of taking Super-Constel lations, Stratocruisers or Comet jets.
In addition it has constructed 600 square feet of hardstanding, 10 miles of roads, a jetty, a slipway, single and married quarters for Department of Civil Aviation staff, passenger lounges, rest rooms, control build ings, radio station, stores, work shops, water supply, sewerage and electrical installations.
There were 461 officers and men in the party and it took them the first 20 days after their arrival at Cocos to get their 7,000 tons of equipment and stores off the ship— there was no wharf or even a jetty then.
They were helped in their job by heavy equipment including bull dozers, graders, mechanical shovels etc., but it was a slick job in any language—the kind of thing we have
forgotten in these latitudes since the Americans packed up and went home after the war.
Comparisons smell, we know. But compare the Squadron’s efforts with the fiddling about that has gone on on Manus Island with the Common wealth Works and Housing Dept, in charge of operations.
As a result of RAAF achievements on Cocos, Qantas Empire Airways was able to make its proving flight from Sydney to South Africa begin ning July 25. It is hoped that the regular Australia-South Africa ser vice will begin on September 1.