Secret WWII Charleville US army base exhibition project officially complete
A secret US army outpost built in a regional Queensland town to test bombs during WWII has been immortalised following the completion of an interactive museum project, which takes visitors on a deep-dive into the lived experience of thousands of soldiers.
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A top-secret US army base built to test the accuracy of bombs during World War II has been further immortalised following the completion of the final exhibition and interactives at the hangar museum.
After first opening its doors to visitors back in August 2021, the secret Charleville World War II US base celebrated another milestone on Thursday as the finishing touches were now complete.
Murweh Shire mayor Shaun ‘Zoro’ Radnegde joined other local, state and federal leaders in officially unveiling the final project on October 5, 2023.
“Charleville played a significant role during World War II and our town hosted thousands of American servicemen between 1942 and 1946,” Mr Radnedge said.
“We need to remember and celebrate the close military alliance between Australian and US Forces.”
The air base was part of General Douglas MacArthur’s ‘Brisbane Line’, a defence strategy that would have involved large areas of northern Australia surrendered in the event of a Japanese invasion.
The military outpost was home to thousands of soldiers, as well as B-17 bombers and P-40 fighter planes, but its true purpose was to test top-secret military hardware used by US bombers.
One of the new exhibitions on offer gives visitors first-hand experience at using similar aiming technology thanks to a hands-on simulator.
State Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe and Federal Maranoa member David Littleproud both agreed the project promoted regional tourism and finally recognised the soldiers whose service at the time was kept under the radar.
“This interactive visitor experience lifts the lid on an astonishing eight-decade-long military secret, previously known only to those who had sworn oaths of silence,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
“With the eyes of the world turning to Queensland on our runway to 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we want to see Charleville’s World War II Secret Base on the radar of US visitors.”
Mr Littleproud said this “fantastic” tourism opportunity would also help “preserve our country’s history for future generations”.
“From site tours, to exhibits and interactive activities, this facility has so much to offer and I am confident will be popular with tourists for years to come,” he said.
Mr Radnedeg said thanks to contributions from all three levels of government they have added to the richness of this historical and memorable interpretive museum and tourism asset.
The final stage of the World War II Secret Base project was funded by a $1m grant from the federal government’s Building Better Regions Fund.
While the first stage completed back in 2021 was jointly funded by the state government, thanks to $1.3m from the Outback Tourism Infrastructure program, and the Murweh Shire Council, thanks to a financial contribution of $469,476.
“It is great to have the support of state and federal governments for projects like this,” Mr Radnedge said.
“The WWII Secret Base is a great experience and I urge everyone to call in and have a look. I am so very proud to see this building formally opened here today.”
The secret World War II US army base is located at 1 Qantas Drive, Charleville with visitors able to book a spot online or over the phone.
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