84th Anniversary Activation of the Historic Oonoonba Bomb Site

Ray VK4OIL secured permission to run a multiple HF field station at the WW2 Heritage Oonoonba Bomb Site on Wednesday 29th July, marking 84 years to the day since the early morning explosion of a 250-pound bomb at the site.

Several stations were set up across the field — verticals, a dipole on a mast, and rigs running everything from base units to portable HF — with members trading contacts, war stories and the occasional cup of tea between transmissions. A specially made sign marked the occasion: “WAR ON T’VILLE, 29·7·1942” — the day the war reached Townsville, remembered 84 years on.

84Years Since

250lbBomb Dropped

29 Jul 1942Historic Date

Wide view of the field with vehicles and antenna masts set up

Field station set up under a vehicle awning with a Y antenna mast

Operator seated at an HF station beside his vehicle

Club members chatting in camp chairs with a dog

Three members chatting under the shade of trees

Two young operators with a handheld radio and a dog

Members chatting near a vertical antenna and vehicles

Operator on the microphone beside the WAR ON T'VILLE 29.7.1942 sign

Operator at a portable HF station under an awning

Members setting up equipment beside the anniversary sign

Members gathered around the WAR ON T'VILLE sign and HF rig

Members chatting around a station under an awning

Group of members around a station and the anniversary sign

Members standing around a table with the anniversary sign

Two members working on a radio at a table

Members and vehicles gathered at the field station

Tall HF vertical antenna against a blue sky with palm trees

Two HF antenna masts set up in the field

Member wearing a Naval Association Townsville shirt beside an antenna

Close-up of an antenna mast joint against the sky

Antenna base with coax connections and tripod mount

Field stations set up among palm trees at the memorial site

Palm trees and memorial markers at the Oonoonba Bomb Site with Castle Hill in the distance

Thanks to Ray VK4OIL for arranging access, and to everyone who brought a rig along to mark the day. See the Communications Support page for more on the club’s activities.

84th Anniversary Activation of the Historic Oonoonba Bomb Site