Pell Airstrip

Military Demobilization. The airstrip was a purpose-built military airfield constructed specifically for the war effort. With the end of WWII, the dense network of strategic airfields in the Darwin region became redundant. Pell, along with many other nearby strips like Strauss and Hughes, was decommissioned and abandoned as it was surplus to peacetime requirements.

The site is a designated and preserved heritage site, known as the 'Pell Airstrip Heritage Site'. The original runway and some of the taxiway system are still clearly visible on the landscape, though they are weathered and partially overgrown. The site is accessible to the public via the Stuart Highway and features historical markers and a memorial. These displays provide information about the airstrip's history, the units that served there, and a tribute to its namesake, Major Floyd J. Pell. It is a point of interest for military historians and tourists, but it is not used for any aviation activities.

Pell Airstrip was a major Allied airbase during World War II with significant operational history.

- **Construction:** Built in early 1943 by the US Army's 808th Engineer Aviation Battalion and the RAAF's No. 1 Airfield Construction Squadron, it featured a single sealed runway measuring approximately 6,000 ft x 150 ft (1,829 m x 46 m).

- **Namesake:** It was named in honor of Major Floyd J. 'Slugger' Pell of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) 49th Fighter Group. He was the first American ace in the Pacific theater to be killed in action when his P-40 Warhawk was shot down over Darwin Harbour on 4 February 1942.

- **Operations:** Pell was the main base for the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) No. 1 Fighter Wing from July 1943. This wing was critical for the air defense of Darwin and included three Spitfire squadrons: No. 54 Squadron (Royal Air Force), No. 452 Squadron (RAAF), and No. 457 Squadron (RAAF). These squadrons conducted defensive patrols, intercepted Japanese raids, and escorted Allied bombers. The airstrip was also used as a staging field for USAAF B-24 Liberator heavy bombers of the 380th Bombardment Group conducting long-range missions against Japanese targets in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia).

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Pell Airstrip for aviation purposes. Its primary value is historical and commemorative. The aviation needs of the region are fully served by modern facilities, primarily Darwin International Airport. The site's status as a protected heritage area makes any future development for aviation highly unlikely.