Manbullo Airfield (RAAF)

The airfield became surplus to military requirements following the cessation of hostilities in World War II. With the end of the war, the large-scale military presence in Northern Australia was significantly reduced, and bases like Manbullo, built for a specific strategic purpose, were decommissioned as part of the post-war demobilization.

The site of the former Manbullo Airfield is now located on private property, forming part of the pastoral lease for Manbullo Station, a large cattle station. The airfield is abandoned and in a state of decay. However, the layout is still clearly visible from the air. The two main runways, though overgrown and unusable, can be distinguished, along with the extensive network of taxiways and the characteristic crescent-shaped earthwork revetments designed to protect parked aircraft. The site is considered a significant historical and archaeological remnant of Australia's WWII heritage, but it is not maintained or accessible to the public without permission from the station owners.

Manbullo Airfield was a crucial Allied heavy bomber base during World War II, playing a significant role in the South West Pacific theatre. Constructed in 1942 by the US Army 808th Engineer Aviation Battalion, it was one of a series of airfields built around Katherine, Northern Territory, to defend Northern Australia and project air power against Japanese forces after the bombing of Darwin. The airfield was designed to accommodate heavy bombers and featured two main runways, extensive taxiways, and over 50 aircraft dispersal areas (revetments) to protect aircraft from air raids. Its primary role was as the main base for the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) No. 82 (Bomber) Wing, which operated B-24 Liberator heavy bombers. Squadrons based at Manbullo, including No. 12, No. 21, No. 23, and No. 24 Squadrons, conducted long-range bombing missions against Japanese shipping, airfields, and infrastructure in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) and Timor. The airfield also hosted support units and fighter squadrons, such as the RAF's No. 54 Squadron flying Spitfires for air defense, making it a vital hub of Allied air operations from late 1943 until the end of the war.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Manbullo Airfield. The infrastructure is in complete disrepair and would require a total reconstruction at an immense cost. Furthermore, its strategic military role is now fulfilled by the nearby modern RAAF Base Tindal. There is no commercial or civilian demand that would justify its reactivation. The site's value is now purely historical.