Archerfield Airport
Beatty Road Archerfield Queensland, Australia
Archerfield Airport is Queensland’s major center for general aviation activities. However, during World War II, Archerfield became an important military air base for the Royal Australian Air Force, United States Air Force, and the Dutch Air Forces. During this time, a variety of bombers, fighters, and transport aircraft became common sights above the suburb of Archerfield. Unfortunately, as eventually occurs at any airfield, pilot error and mechanical failure occasionally take their toll.
Several accidents occurred during the war years at Archerfield, the vast majority of which transpired fortunately without the loss of life. However, on March 27, 1943, a C-47 Dakota transport plane crashed into dense bush on the outskirts of the air base moments after takeoff, resulting in the death of all 23 military and air force personnel on board. At the time, the accident was deemed as the worst air disaster in Australian aviation history.
In more recent years, a warplane buff visiting the site experienced an event he will never forget. “I was walking across one of the airfields on my way back to a group of friends when I spotted a man dressed in what appeared to be World War II flight gear,” he said. “I can remember him vividly, right down to his flight jacket, goggles, and cap. As there were a number of wartime aviation buffs visiting the airfield that day, I thought nothing of it—must have been someone getting into the spirit of things by turning up in costume. We passed each other and the friendly chap acknowledged me with a gesture and a nod, as did I to him, and I continued to walk back to rejoin my friends. When I arrived back, I asked my colleagues who the chap in the World War II flight gear was. It was at that point that one of the more knowledgeable of our group told me that I had just met the ghost of Archerfield!”
The ghost, who regularly visits the vicinity of the airfield, has been seen by many residents of the area, and while there have been numerous, non-fatal accidents over the years at Archerfield, the jovial spirit in question is rumored to have resulted from the C-47 Dakota incident of 1943. While there have been a few sightings within the airport grounds themselves, the majority of sightings take place along the road outside of the airport.
Stories abound of a lone airman, dressed in full period flight uniform, sometimes walking through the site but most commonly seen traversing alongside
Beatty Road, which runs along the boundary of Archerfield Airport. Some observers say that as they pass by and glance at the airman in curiosity, their gaze will be acknowledged with a wave and a smile.
