Haunted Airfields
For Halloween, a collection of weird tales about airports and aircraft.
- By Rebecca Maksel
- AirSpaceMag.com, October 25, 2011
Murray van der Veer
The ghost of a World War II Royal Australian Air Force airman (dressed in uniform, goggles and cap, and carrying a deployed parachute under his arm) is said to haunt Archerfield Airport in Queensland, Australia. The Southern Star reported in 2009 that the ghost “is that of a man who was on board a Royal Australian Air Force transport plane, which took off from Archerfield just after 5 a.m. on March 27, 1943, on a mission to Sydney to pick up radar equipment. Less than a minute later, the C-47 Dakota rolled on to its left side and plummeted to the ground, smashing into trees and exploding in swampland…. All 23 Australian and US military servicemen and women on board died.”
The crash did actually happen, and there is a memorial plaque at the airport dedicated to the 36 Transport Squadron.
Another possible reason for the ghost story, says Archerfield Airport General Manager Corrie Metz, “may have something to do with the fact that the airport was first acquired from a pioneer who started a family burial plot that turned into a small cemetery called ‘God’s Acre.’ The cemetery (in the bottom right corner of the photo) is on airport land, and is still being maintained by the airport. It was originally for the Grenier family, who buried their 16-year-old son, Volney, after he died in a horse riding accident in 1859. The plot was then used for the family and later for other pioneers of the area. The last Sunday in June of each year is still used by direct descendants to commemorate the site.”
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Comments (4)
While I'll admit that I'm a fan of ghost tales and that I like to watch or read them with as little light as possible at night, I'm also chilled to the marrow in broad daylight by these stories of "Haunted Airfields"--even the ones that might simply be--as you so eloquently put it--"a wild ghost chase." Thank you so much for getting into the--uh--spirit.
Posted by Diane Williams on October 28,2011 | 09:51 AM
The two murals mentioned actually depict the children of the world, dressed in authentic native costumes of approximately 26 countries, overcoming the forces of evil and destruction. The positive panels are roughly twice the width of the dark and depressing panels, and are bathed in light and bright colors, showing dancing happy children. In "In Peace and Harmony with Nature", the artist's mother is depicted on the far right dancing in a bright red swirling dress, because, he said, she wasn't allowed to dance in life.
The gargoyles are seated in Samsonite suitcases (made in Denver), one in each of the two baggage claim areas. Gargoyles are not evil, but are protective and are in the baggage claim areas to protect your luggage. They were some of the last artworks to be installed. Had they been in place earlier that baggage system would have worked like a charm! The title of the work, "Notre Denver".
Posted by Marilyn Shaw on November 26,2011 | 08:35 PM
The Hornet story reminded me of when I was younger and had gone to hang out with my then-girlfriend and another couple by a lake near our town.
I went to releive myself and was approached by a young girl who looked to be about 12-15 wearing a flower print dress. She had long hair that looked wet and no shoes. I was embarassed that she had caught me "mid stream" and offered a "hi" to her. She was just staring and she faded from view.
I was totally freaked out and ran back to the van. Thru some research I later found out that a young girl had drowned in the lake back in the 1920s.
Posted by Stan Sikorski on July 14,2012 | 06:58 PM
I read on another website the DIA was built to be shaped like a swastika and had unknown languages written on the floor. They even said the languages may be alien.
Posted by swagdaddy on December 26,2012 | 10:14 PM