CAC Plant Reports 1940, numbers 61 – 73

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1943 The airfield at Drysdale Mission and the staging base on Kalumburu Mission in Western Australia were bombed at 0956 hrs on 27 September 1943 by twenty one IJAAF Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lily" bombers escorted by Navy Zero fighters. They bombed and machine gunned the airfield. The ammunition hut exploded when it was hit by a bomb. There were no casualties at the airfield but a direct hit on a slit trench at the Mission itself, killed Father Thomas and five aboriginals. The staging base was used by Operational Base Unit No. 58 and the airfield was a refuelling and ammunition depot for the RAAF anti-submarine aircraft operating between Darwin and Fremantle. Source: Australia at War website

1945 After participating in a number of victory fly-pasts, 464 Squadron RAAF disbanded in Belgium on 27 September 1945. The squadron flew its last mission on 2 May 1945, and following the end of hostilities flew the German Commander to Berlin to sign the surrender agreement on behalf of Germany. 464 Squadron was formed in England in September 1942, equipped with Lockheed Ventura light bombers. In July 1943 the Squadron converted to Mosquitoes and operations were re-commenced in October. Source: airforce.gov.au

1969 Cessna 182C VH-BIG operated by Glenreigh Pastoral Company crashed at Glenreigh Station, QLD on 27 September 1969. On the morning of the accident the pilot flew the aircraft from Glenreigh Station to Hughenden, a distance of 63 nautical miles, and arrived at approximately 1000 hours. During the course of the day he consumed a quantity of alcohol. The pilot, who was not qualified for instrument flight, planned to return to Glenreigh that evening but, although last light at Glenreigh was at 1844 hours, he did not depart Hughenden until 1810 hours and made a planned landing at Peronne Station some 10 minutes later. At about 1825 hours the pilot departed on the 43 nautical mile flight to Glenreigh Station and arrived over the airstrip at about the end of daylight. The aircraft was seen to circle over the strip and make an approach into the south east with the landing lights illuminated. A vehicle had been positioned at the side of the north western end of the strip so as to illuminate the landing area with its headlights. When the aircraft was almost at the touchdown point at the northwestern end of the strip, the engine power increased and the aircraft climbed away. It made a left hand turn as though to continue around and make another approach. However, when flying above the almost featureless terrain in a position some 2700 feet to the north east of the strip, the aircraft entered a steep dive, crashed to the ground and immediately caught fire. The pilot had been undergoing medical treatment involving tranquilising and sedative drugs and the possibility exists that this medication interacted with the alcohol consumed to further impair the ability of the pilot. Sources: ATSB (BASI investigation report 196900024; aviation-safety.net website