Sunday History Photo / SA

The first powered flight in South Australia was of a Blériot Aéronautique monoplane in 1910, south-west of Salisbury. In the 1920s investigations began into construction of an airport in Adelaide. Land was initially purchased in Cheltenham but the cost of acquiring sufficient land, neighbouring residential development and the erection of power transmission lines all interfered with airport plans. In 1927, the Commonwealth government purchased 318 acres of land at Parafield from a family owned farming company for £17,000. The area had been used for fattening sheep on lucerne and other fodder plants. The airport was expanded in 1942, with the boundary extending west to the Gawler railway line.

Single engine Aeronca airplane (VH-ACJ) at the Parafield Airport

An aircraft hangar under construction at Parafield airport, supplied and erected by Forwood Down, ironworks at Kilkenny, 1933

On 1 October 1927, H.C. "Horrie" Miller was the first to land on the site, ground preparation was completed on the 17th and flights began on 26 November by the Aero club of South Australia. The site was officially opened as an airport in August 1929 by Governor-General of Australia Alexander Hore-Ruthven. The control tower opened shortly prior to World War II. Prior to the war Gúinea Airways was the main company flying out of the airport using.
During World War II, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) occupied the airfield as a station for basic flight training and was home to No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School between 1939 and 1944 until it moved to Tamworth, New South Wales. A relief landing ground was located near Virginia. No. 34 Squadron utilised Parafield to deliever supplies to operational bases and aerodromes in the Northern Territory and Western Australia between 1943 and February 1945.

Accident to Lockheed 10B aircraft VVH-UZP at Parafield on 16 May 1946

Accident to Lockheed 10B aircraft VVH-UZP at Parafield on 16 May 1946

Ground Weather Report 16-5-1946

The flight of VH-UZP from Essendon to Parafield was quite Normal until it passed over Parafield at 3800ft and flying in cloudThe Captain then did an unorthodox decent in that he did not follow the procedure laid down for Parafield in the Company’s Op’s Manual.
He was uncertain of his position caused him to look for a landmark whilst at approx’ 800ft , he looked rearward through the Port side Window and did not notice the Altitude of the aircraft change allowing it to fly into the ground. Investigations concluded Captain Ditchburn failed to keep an eye on the Instruments which caused the Accident, All crew and 10 Passengers survived the crash, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Weather report, Essendon to Parafield

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Parafield Control Tower 1948

After the war ended, transport was also handled by Australian National Airways and Trans Australia Airlines both moving to Adelaide Airport in 1955 which now handles all regular passenger transport. In 1983 a group of trees was planted by local high school students. When fully grown, from the air they clearly spell out the word "PARAFIELD". As of 2007 the trees had been removed.


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