RAAF Learmonth

Infobox Airport
name = RAAF Learmonth /
Learmonth Airport
nativename =


IATA = LEA
ICAO = YPLM
type = Joint (civil/military)
owner =
operator = RAAF / Shire of Exmouth
town-served = Exmouth, Western Australia
location =
elevation-f = 19
elevation-m = 6
coordinates = coord|22|14|08|S|114|05|19|E|type:airport|inline=yes
website =
metric-rwy = y
r1-number = 18/36
r1-length-f = 9,997
r1-length-m = 3,047
r1-surface = Asphalt / Concrete
footnotes = Source: DAFIFWAD|YPLM|Source=DAFIF] GCM|LEA|source=DAFIF]

RAAF Learmonth, also known as Learmonth Airport airport codes|LEA|YPLM, is a joint use Royal Australian Air Force base and civil airport. It is located near the town of Exmouth on the north-west coast of Western Australia.

As an RAAF base, Learmonth is one of the RAAF's three 'bare bases'. No Air Force units are currently based at Learmonth and it is maintained by a small caretaker staff during peacetime.

History

RAAF Learmonth was an important base during World War II, when it was code-named "Potshot". The base is named in honour of Wing Commander Charles C. Learmonth DFC and Bar, who, while leading No. 14 Squadron, was killed in a flying accident off Rottnest Island, Western Australia in January 1944. [ [http://www.defence.gov.au/RAAF/organisation/info_on/units/14_sqn/index.htm No. 14 Squadron RAAF] ] No. 76 Operational Base Unit maintained the base during World War II.

In the mid-1960s, the Federal Government gave its support to plans by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Val Hancock, to redevelop Learmonth as a 'bare base', due to its proximity to Indonesia. The major work was undertaken by No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron between 1971 and 1973.Stephens, "The Royal Australian Air Force", pp.283-286]

Airlines and destinations

*National Jet Systems (Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands)
*Skywest Airlines (Monkey Mia, Perth)

Notes

References

* [http://www.raaf.gov.au/raafmuseum/research/bases/learmonth.htm Learmonth] at RAAF Museum
*cite book|last=Stephens| first=Alan|origyear=2001|year=2006| title=The Royal Australian Air Force: A History|location=London| publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=0195555414