No. 6 Replenishing Centre RAAF

Ammunition Storage - RAAF No. 6 Replenishment Centre, Muresk 2013. courtesy Erldenmile

Brief History

No. 6 Replenishing Centre RAAF was raised at Pearce, Western Australia, on 23 Aug 194l. Its primary purpose was to store ammunition for aircraft serving in Western Australia. The unit was active at Muresk by June 1942. Ten airmen were injured when the vehicle in wh1ch they were travelling overturned in heavy rain in a recreation run between Muresk and Northam. Five of the least injured were released from 118 Australian General Hospital on 10 Jul 1942.

During the early hours of 14 March 1943, a severe windstorm blew down seven tents and demolished three temporary ammunition storage sheds, and a tree branch fell on the roof of the officers' and sergeants' mess. Power lines were brought to earth and a water tank blowing through the unit knocked down the perimeter fence. A fire on 30 Apr 1943 threatened a stack of bomb tails stored under tarpaulins on the north side of the unit. 168 tails and 169 containers were destroyed before the fire was brought under control.

Three tenders and drivers from the unit participated in a search for a missing navigator, who had baled out from a Vultee Vengeance on 10 Sep 1944. The search, centered 11 kilometers south of Southern Cross, was abandoned on the night of the 16th. and the party returned to 6 Replenishing Centre. The unit also participated inputting out a number of fires through summer periods.

The unit had stored US Navy stores, after they had been inspected on 20 Nov 1944, the stock was taken over by the RAAF. During December 1944 and January 1945, several fires broke out along the railway line between Muresk and Spencers Brook with assistance in containing them again provide by the unit. 6 Rep1enishing Centre was advised by Headquarters Western Area of its disbandment and the re-location of 6 Central Reserve from Nokanning to take over the site. All files and records were subsequently handed over on 30 Jan 1945.

Unit Personnel

• Reginald William Jordan Dec 1944 - Jan 1945