Exmouth Submarine Base

Exmouth Gulf on western Australia was selected as the site for US Naval base as it was thought at the time to be out of the reach of Empire of Japan's long-range bombers.

The Submarine operation at Exmouth Gulf and the North West Cape was called Operation Potshot, named after the Potshot airfield that provided fighter plane cover for the base.

[1][2][3] With the loss of Naval Base Manila in the Philippines, US Submarines fled to Dutch East Indies and then Indonesia until these ports were taken over.

Potshot airfield, near Yanrey, was also called Learmonth Airport of the Royal Australian Air Force.

[5][6] On May 20, 1943, two Japanese Betty bombers were first spotted by the Radar Station at Onslow, just north of Exmouth Gulf.

Again two Boomerang were sent up, but by the time one plane found a bomber, it was low on fuel and had to return to base.

[2] On November 26, 1942, PBY-5A # 2407 aborted a take-off at Exmouth, the plane hit a large swell.

[10] On July 3, 1943, PBY #08294 crashed in Exmouth Gulf, killing 4 crew members and 8 passengers.

From Potshot Z Special Unit started Operation Jaywick, a successful raid on Japanese shipping in Singapore Harbour, in September 1943.