RAAF Base Learmonth (Potshot)

RAAF Base Learmonth is a joint-use Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base and civil airport located near Exmouth on the north-west coast of Western Australia. Established during World War II as a landing field code-named Potshot, the site was maintained by No. 76 Operational Base Unit in support of Operation Potshot. In the 1950s, the facility was developed as a military base and named in honor of Wing Commander Charles Learmonth. Beginning in June 1944, the airfield served as an intermediate stop for Qantas Consolidated Liberator bombers operating on the England-Australia air route.

Following plans proposed in the mid-1960s to support long-range strike operations, the base was redeveloped as a bare base. Construction was carried out by No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron between 1971 and 1973. The redevelopment was intended to provide operational flexibility for aircraft such as the F-111C.

The facility is currently one of three bare bases operated by the RAAF. It is owned by the Department of Defence and maintained during peacetime by 25 Squadron and a caretaker staff. The base supports both military operations and civil aviation. Infrastructure includes the Learmonth Air Weapons Range Facility, which encompasses 18,954 hectares and is situated 30 kilometers southwest of the airbase.