Bore Sight Range and Compass Swinging Platform at Charters Towers Airfield

The Bore Sight Range and Compass Swinging Platform at Charters Towers Airfield is a military facility with two main parts: a concrete platform for gun alignment and a circular marked area for compass testing. The site allowed technicians to check and adjust navigation and targeting equipment on different aircraft models.

The facility was built between 1942 and 1943 to support the United States Fifth Air Force in operations against Japanese forces in the South Pacific. It played a role in preparing combat aircraft for active duty during that conflict.

The site shows the technical demands of preparing military aircraft for combat during the Second World War. It reflects how closely Australia and the United States worked together in the Pacific region during that period.

The site is open for visitors to explore, though the original concrete structures are delicate and require care. Wear sturdy shoes and stay on marked paths, as the airfield ground can be uneven and rough in places.

This is the only remaining aircraft bore sight range of its type from the Second World War still standing in Queensland, with original concrete elements intact. The design reveals how precisely technicians had to calibrate targeting systems by hand during that era.

Location: Queensland

GPS coordinates: -20.03890,146.27000

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:10