General Douglas MacArthur in Townsville, Queensland during WW2, the Facts and the Myths

General Douglas MacArthur visited Townsville on nine occasions. His visits were generally for a luncheon stopover on his way to or from Port Moresby. See below.

DATE	Summary	MacArthur's Office Diary Entry
2 Oct 42	Left Brisbane and flew to Port Moresby with a short stopover in Townsville	Accompanied by Major General Kenney and Colonels Diller and Morhouse departed from Archer Field for Townsville at 0800. Arrived at Port Moresby, New Guinea at 1900.
6 Nov 42	Left Brisbane and flew to Port Moresby with a short stopover for lunch with General Walker in Townsville	Departed from Brisbane 0835; arrived Townsville 1300. Had luncheon at General Walker's quarters. Departed Townsville 1440 arriving at Moresby at 1810.
9 Jan 43	Left Port Moresby and flew to Brisbane with a short stopover for lunch in Townsville	Departed at 0700 for Brisbane. Luncheon in Townsville and arrived in Brisbane at 1600.
25 Jun 43	Left Brisbane and flew to Cairns with a short stopover in Townsville for lunch with General Coleman.	Accompanied by Generals Chamberlin and Marquat and Colonels Diller and Morhouse, departed from Archer Field at 0900, arriving at Townsville at 1250. Had lunch with General Coleman. Departed at 1415 and arrived at Cairns at 1525.
24 Sep 43	Left Port Moresby and flew to Brisbane with a short stopover for lunch at the Air Depot in Townsville	Accompanied by Colonel Diller and Lieutenant Colonel Morhouse, departed Port Moresby at 0815. Arrived Townsville 1200. Luncheon at the Fourth Depot Group. Departed Townsville at 1255. Arrived in Brisbane 1620.
1 May 44	Left Port Moresby and flew to Brisbane with a short stopover for lunch at the Air Depot in Townsville	Departed Port Moresby aboard "Bataan" at 0700, accompanied by Colonel Diller, Colonel Lehrbas, Lt Colonel Egeberg and T/Sgt Bothne. Arrived Townsville 1130. Lunched with Colonel Bertrandias, Townsville Air Depot, Departed 1315, arrived Archerfield, Brisbane, 1630.
9 Sep 44	Left Brisbane and flew to Port Moresby with a short stopover for lunch in Townsville	Accompanied by Colonel Lehrbas, Lt Colonel Egeberg and M/Sgt Bothne departed Eagle Farm, Brisbane, 0800. Arrived Townsville 1145. Departed Townsville 1245, arrived Port Moresby 1615.
20 Sep 44	Left Port Moresby and flew to Brisbane with a short stopover for lunch in Townsville	Accompanied by General Fellers, Colonel Lehrbas, Lt Colonel Egeberg and M/Sgt Bothne departed Port Moresby 0800. Arrived Townsville 1130. Departed Townsville 1230. Arrived Brisbane 1600.
14 Oct 44	Left Eagle Farm with a short stopover for lunch in Townsville at the Air Depot.	At 0800 accompanied by Colonel Lehrbas, Lt Colonel Egeberg and M/Sgt Bothne, departed Eagle Farm, Brisbane. Arrived Townsville 1130. Lunch at Air Depot. Departed Townsville 1230. Arrived Port Moresby 1600.

The book "General Kenney Reports" indicate incorrectly that MacArthur stayed overnight in Townsville on 17 October 1942 and flew to Port Moresby the next morning and returned to Brisbane on 21 October 1942. This visit was also not mentioned in Jack Gallaway's book "The Odd Couple - Blamey and Macarthur at War" which lists "MacArthur's Movements Day by Day". The conclusive proof is that MacArthur's Office Diary shows that he was in Brisbane during that whole period..

The Diary of Weldon E. (Dusty) Rhoades, General MacArthur's personal pilot during WW2 has the following two entries about visits to Townsville:-

General MacArthur lived in a house in Cleveland Terrace in Townsville during WW2

I have heard a "story" that General MacArthur may have lived in a house opposite 22A Cleveland Terrace, Townsville behind where the old Supreme Court House used to be located. This house is apparently painted pink today. (Can someone send me a photograph of this house and confirm its street address?). Perhaps he may have visited this house. Was it where his local senior officer lived? For example did General Kenneth Walker live there? Was it the "Cream House" referred to below?

"Duncragen" is a low set house overlooking The Strand. It was commandeered by the US Army during WWII and was used as a private residence for General Kenneth Walker and other senior US officers.

The US Operations and Signals Building or Message Center at Ramsay Street, Garbutt

Some of the locals have referred to the large bunker at Ramsay Street, Garbutt as MacArthur's bunker. There's a possibility that General MacArthur may never have visited this large bunker. This bunker was the Operations and Signals Building for No. 2 U.S. Air Command.

"General Kenney Reports - A Personal History of the Pacific War"
by George C. Kenney