A short history of the Airfield at The Oaks.

On the 7th December 1941 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and landed in the Philippines and the British colonies of Hong Kong and North Malaya, Australia was geographically amidst a world war. The strength of the Japanese forces and the closeness of the war to Australia's coastline concerned defence authorities.

It was in this context that the Curtin government considered a number of contingency plans in preparation for possible invasion. One of these plans, significant to the formation of large Aerodromes in New South Wales was an imaginary and controversial demarcation known as the Brisbane Line.

The build up of defence concentration on the area South East of the line would include aerodromes from which to stage bombing attacks and reconnaissance flights to future Japanese positions in Northern Australia. Between February and April 1942 the New South Wales government and the Allied Works Council constructed Australia's largest air base at Tocumwal (on the Victorian and NSW border).

There were 125 Aerodromes and landing grounds in New South Wales by 1943. The Oaks airfield was constructed late 42 early 43 as a satellite aerodrome to Camden, which had squadrons 15, 32 and 78. Camden was the first Central Flying School (CFS), which later moved to Tamworth RAAF base. Camden was classified as being "suitable for fighters with good surface"

The Oaks, being a satellite field to Camden, would have seen Kittyhawks, Lockheed Hudsons and Beauforts. Aircraft would have used the 5000 foot x 150 foot sealed runway running North - South 36/18. B24 Liberator bombers, probably from Tocumwal also used The Oaks airfield.

There is a reported accident on the 26th January 1943 when a Lockheed Hudson, with crew of five, crashed just North of the strip killing all on board. It was reported that they had a misfiring engine and were trying to make it into The Oaks. Apparently the engine stopped and the Hudson rolled over, crashed and caught fire. The crew were Flight Sergeant Stuart Scott, Henry Johns, George Gordon Lawson, all from 32 squadron. They are buried at Camden cemetery.

By mid 43 The Oaks airfield was classified "under construction", although the 5000' runway had been completed for some time. At war's end the Department of Air released its post war policy on 12th February 1946 outlining which aerodromes would be retained for RAAF purposes and training facilities under the commonwealth, at a cost of 50,000 pounds, and a list of those not required for future use and subject to immediate disposal. The Oaks airfield was included on the latter list.

The Oaks airfield as we know it now, is only the Southern side of the original aerodrome. The Burragorang Road was always there, but had gates across the road when the airfield was in use. The property went back into private hands and the owners sold off the tar from the sealed runway to Wollondilly Shire Council as road base when they upgraded Burragorang Road. At some stage later, John Davidson and Graham Onus purchased the property and returned it to a flying field. The airfield now sports a 3100' (950 meters) main strip, which would have been the taxiways during WW2. In 2000 Graham Onus purchased John Davidson half share and is the sole owner of The Oaks airport.

Information sourced from NSW Heritage Office.

Photo taken in 1942 of The Oaks as it was being built. Click on the thumbnail to see progressively more hi-res versions.

It is interesting to compare this with a modern image from Google Earth, with the 'eye' also set to 11,000 feet.

A full image (from maps.google.com.au or google earth) will show a yellow plane next to our club. This is probably 25-081.