The airfield was established in the suburb of Parap to act as the Australian Terminal as part of the 1919 England to Australia air race.

12 Squadron to the aerodrome in September 1939 after the declaration of war against Germany and amidst increasing suspicion regarding Japanese imperialism.

By early 1942, the aerodrome was mainly used by the RAAF, although Guinea Airways retained a civilian presence.

The Japanese bombed the aerodrome in a number of raids on Darwin during 1942, resulting in extensive damage to the town and hangar.

The main runway was in the location of present-day Ross Smith Avenue, in the suburb of Parap.