Gove Airport

Gove Airport is on the Gove Peninsula in the Northern Territory of Australia. It services the mining town of Nhulunbuy and several Aboriginal communities including Yirrkala. The airport is located 5.8NM south southeast of the Nhulunbuy town centre, on Melville Road. It is operated by the Nhulunbuy Corporation.Airnorth operates daily scheduled services to and from Darwin, Cairns & Groote Eylandt.Various charter companies are based and operate out of Gove. Including Laynha Air, Marthakal Yolngu Airline, Katherine Aviation, Air Frontier, Black Diamond Aviation and Mission Aviation Fellowship.HistoryGove Airport is located on the site of the former RAAF Base Gove. This World War II airbase was built in 1943 and named for Pilot Officer William Gove who was killed in action. During the war, the airfield was used by No. 83 Squadron RAAF flying CAC Boomerangs and No. 13 Squadron RAAF flying Lockheed Venturas, with No. 42 Squadron RAAF operating PBY Catalina flying boats out of nearby Drimmie Head. At the height of operations, over 5,000 servicemen were stationed at the base. The base closed in early 1946.