Gould Airfield (RAAF)

The closure was a direct result of the end of World War II. The extensive network of airfields, including Gould, was constructed for the specific purpose of defending Northern Australia from Japanese forces and projecting Allied air power. With the cessation of hostilities, the base became redundant and was surplus to the RAAF's peacetime requirements.

The site is an abandoned WWII airstrip. The main north-south runway, approximately 1,800 meters (6,000 feet) long, is still clearly visible in satellite imagery as a distinct scar on the landscape, though it is heavily overgrown with scrub and trees. The land is part of the rural locality of Gould in the Litchfield Shire and appears to be private pastoral property. There are no remaining buildings, facilities, or active aviation operations at the site. It exists solely as a historical remnant.

Gould Airfield, also known as Gould Strip or No. 14 Airfield, was a critically important Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) fighter base during World War II. Constructed in 1942 by the US Army's 808th Engineer Aviation Battalion and Australia's No. 1 Airfield Construction Squadron, it was a key satellite field in the defense network for Darwin. Its primary role was to host fighter squadrons for the interception of Japanese bombers. The airfield is most famous for being the home base for No. 1 Wing RAAF, which comprised the celebrated Supermarine Spitfire squadrons, No. 452 Squadron and No. 457 Squadron. From this base, these squadrons flew numerous combat missions, successfully defending Darwin against Japanese air raids throughout 1943 and contributing significantly to establishing Allied air superiority in the region.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Gould Airfield. The Northern Territory is well-served by modern aviation infrastructure, including RAAF Base Darwin and Darwin International Airport. The cost to clear and restore the derelict WWII-era runway to meet modern safety and operational standards would be prohibitive, and there is no strategic or commercial demand for another airfield in this specific location.