ARTHUR Wass, David Pahlke and George Hatchman recently met to discuss preserving the history of the old rifle range and airfield that was situated on Ipswich Rosewood Road in Rosewood.
Arthur currently lives near the location, George is the RAAF No 23 Squadron Association Historian and David co-ordinates the Rosewood History Group.
George said he hopes the outcome of their discussion will be an informative history plaque for each site.
“My interest in this history is that both my wife Christine and I had purchased a similar ex-military rifle range at Warrill Creek on disposal from the Royal Australian Airforce.
“It had also been used in World War II as an Emergency Landing Ground for aircraft departing to the south of the RAAF Base Amberley should the crew experience aircraft operational difficulties,” he said.
“Likewise, a similar emergency landing ground was established in the Rosewood area for RAAF aircraft departing to the west of Amberley.
“The Rosewood airstrip was also used for recreational gliding aircraft by local Rosewood folk for a period after decommissioning post World War II.
“The Rosewood rifle range was on the opposite side of the road to the emergency landing ground and it was a separate area.
“Commissioned for military and 303 big bore rifle shooting prior to the Boer War, the range was used until its disposal post World War II.
“It was also used by the United States Air Force in the late 1960s for the perimeter installation of an OMEGA loop antenna for navigation and communications for US Navy vessels in the Pacific Ocean and for the recovery of the first Luna Landing Module.”
David added that residents were fortunate that Arthur and George were happy to share their personal stories of these sites.
“Together with the addition of my personal interest for the area, all of this information goes well for fossicking out these great events and stories,” he said.
“If anybody has any photographs or information in regards to the Rosewood airstrip or the Rosewood rifle range please reach out, as we would be very interested to see more.”
