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First Aircraft Lands on Nackaroo Airstrip

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070718-01
Release Date: 7/18/2007 8:39:00 AM

By Air Force Master Sgt. Rickie Bickle, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 Det. Guam Public Affairs

BRADSHAW FIELD TRAINING AREA, Australia (NNS) -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4 personnel along with other members of the Joint Rapid Airfield Construction (JRAC) Task Force, watched with anticipation as an Australian C-130 Hercules approached the Nackaroo Airstrip at Bradshaw Field Training Area (BFTA) in Australia’s Northern Territory on June 23.

Members from NMCB 4, U.S. Army, U.S. Marines, Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force units combined efforts to construct the airstrip in a record 16 days. In the past, airstrips capable of supporting the C-130 aircraft normally took 30 plus days to construct.

The C-130 was the first aircraft to land on the newly completed airstrip. The U.S. Air Force certification crew from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron from Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan, gave their approval for C-130 ops.

The airstrip is capable of supporting not only the C-130, but also one of the largest jet transports, the C-17 Globemaster III.

“It was neat to see the first plane land on the runway we built,” said Constructionman Jeremy Baker.

JRAC members were allowed to tour the inside of the C-130 while it was parked on the apron.

“I have never been that close to an aircraft,” Baker added.

The airfield was proudly named after the famous North Australian Observation Unit (NAUO), nicknamed the "Nackeroos," that patrolled the Northern Territory in World War II and gained quite a reputation for their toughness and dedication.

Initially struggling in this harsh territory, the Nackeroos formed strong alliances and gained respect for the Aboriginal inhabitants who helped them navigate the area and survive. The cooperation and mutual respect continues today as evidenced by the cooperation that is Bradshaw Field Training Area.