Camden Airport is an aerodrome located on the outskirts of Sydney northwest of Camden, New South Wales, Australia. The airport is located approximately from Sydney's central business district. Camden is used as a general aviation overflow airport for the busier Bankstown Airport; and provides facilities for gliding and ballooning. The aerodrome has one grass- and one paved runway and two glider airstrips. It is in the south-west corner of the designated Sydney flight training area. History Early history A racecourse owned by prominent local grazier Arthur Macarthur-Onslow originally occupied the site of the Camden aerodrome. The shooting of the film Silks and Saddles at the track involved an Avro 504K biplane piloted by Edgar Percival landing on the set, and the occasion led to Macarthur-Onslow's sons Edward, Denzil and Andrew displaying a keen interest in aviation. By 1935, the Macarthur-Onslow family owned several aircraft including a de Havilland Hornet Moth and a Comper Swift which they stored in a shed on the property. The boys established the Macquarie Grove Flying School on the property in 1938, however the operations of the school would be wound back significantly when Edward Macarthur-Onslow, now responsible for Macquarie Grove Aerodrome and the associated flying school, offered the facility to the government following the outbreak of war. World War II Originally a private airstrip, the area that was to become Camden Aerodrome was utilised by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and other Allied air forces during World War II. Camden airfield hosted Nos. 4, 15, 21, 32 and 78 RAAF Squadrons at various stages during the war. In addition the Central Flying School operated between 1940 and 1942, and a British transport unit, No. 243 Squadron RAF, was based at Camden during the latter part of World War II. Camden was also the No.13 Operational Base. By 1946 the airfield had been returned to its civil status. In May 1942, No. 4 Squadron RAAF moved to Camden from Canberra equipped with CAC Wirraways, but were redeployed to Kingaroy, Queensland in September. No. 15 Squadron RAAF was formed as a maritime patrol unit at Camden on 27 January 1944 equipped with Australian built versions of the Bristol Beaufort torpedo bomber. The squadron maintained detachments at Camden until the end of the war although it was based at other airfields for short periods. No. 21 Squadron RAAF arrived at Camden in January 1944 from New Guinea