An army searchlight lights up the skies again

@JudyEv (382036)
Rockingham, Australia
April 5, 2026 2:13am CST
We’ve just returned from Nungarin In West Australia’s wheatbelt, where we watched a World War II searchlight in operation. There was a very large army camp in the town at the time. Most of the buildings are now incorporated into an army museum although there are many other exhibits as well. At its busiest, there were around 100 tanks and over 2,000 troops housed there. It was the largest storage facility in WA for army ordinance at the time and believed to the largest timber-clad building in the state. Contrary to what I thought, the searchlight was purchased from elsewhere and was never used at Nungarin during the war years. It was in pieces at the time and volunteers eventually managed to build it to the point where it is lit up once a year at Easter. It’s interesting how the light seems to go so far then just stop. The yellow dot over on the right and just above the beam was a very lovely and quite large moon.
14 people like this
12 responses
@LindaOHio (222314)
• United States
5 Apr
Interesting. Have you ever flown in a WWII plane? Hubby and I did that in Key West on one of our trips there.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (382036)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr
No, I haven't. I bet you enjoyed that experience.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382036)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Apr
@LindaOHio Open cockpit? Wow, that WOULD have been an experience.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222314)
• United States
6 Apr
@JudyEv It was really a unique experience. Unfortunately I got grease on my new pants; and my leather helmet wasn't fastened tight enough so it flapped against my head. (Open cockpit)
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174405)
• United States
5 Apr
Flashlight beams seem to do that, too, especially if there's a little bit of fog forming at the time.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (382036)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr
So Anna says. I hadn't really noticed that.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (148730)
• Roseburg, Oregon
5 Apr
Thanks for sharing this information.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (382036)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr
You're very welcome.
@LadyDuck (502429)
• Italy
5 Apr
Beautiful bright moon! I noticed that flashlight beams produce a very bright light, that suddenly stops instead of fading.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (502429)
• Italy
5 Apr
@JudyEv - I never thought of that.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382036)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr
There was a really lovely moon that night. I hadn't thought about flashlight beams stopping suddenly too.
2 people like this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
6 Apr
I’ve never seen a WWII searchlight, but have seen many up north. Here in Florida, now that you know who is our President, we see many helicopters and planes flying overhead the water and land looking for possible threats. I saw the full moon while driving home from dinner with our granddaughter. It’s so beautiful twinkling on the water. Besides, Doodles the cat promised me that he’d visit with me from every full moon two days before he passed away. That’s a promise he kept and a time I talk to him.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
7 Apr
@JudyEv Thanks for remembering my precious Doodles. And I remember your sweet Hercules. They are both watching over us from Heaven.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382036)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Apr
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382036)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Apr
I remember Doodles. I wish I'd made a similar promise with Hercules.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (21497)
• London, England
5 Apr
They must consume a heck of a lot of electricity and get hot. Never seen one myself
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382036)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Apr
They used two different generators. I'm not sure what the difference was but the second one gave a whiter light.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382036)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Apr
@Ronrybs I'll do another post about it but it probably won't tell you much more than you know now.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (21497)
• London, England
6 Apr
@JudyEv Wonder how that works? Interesting, what is going on inside of it
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (120727)
• United States
5 Apr
That would have been cool to see in person.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382036)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr
It was pretty neat. There were dozens of people taking photos.
1 person likes this
• China
5 Apr
The searchlight beams bring back memories of World War II .Anything is preferable to war !
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382036)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr
I heard today, although I've heard it before, that there are no winners in war. I think that is very true.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135722)
• Marion, Ohio
5 Apr
That would be interesting to see
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382036)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Apr
There were quite a lot of people there to see it light up the sky.
1 person likes this
@rakski (156388)
• Philippines
5 Apr
I bet it's nice to see that personally
1 person likes this
@rakski (156388)
• Philippines
5 Apr
@JudyEv that is great! They have more interesting stuff there for sure!!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382036)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr
I'm pleased we went. The museum is very comprehensive but seeing the light was the icing on the cake.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97990)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Apr
I've seen such lights light up the sky it is an amazing sight,
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382036)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Apr
I really enjoyed seeing it.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (28380)
• Singapore
5 Apr
The increasing use of drones has changed the rules of war now. Of course, there are no rules or rhyme or reason for wars nowadays.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382036)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Apr
Each war has seen huge changes from the one before but far too many people still get killed.
1 person likes this