An army searchlight lights up the skies again
By Judy Evans
@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
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
@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

@changjiangzhibin89 (17239)
• China
5 Apr
The searchlight beams bring back memories of World War II .Anything is preferable to war !
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


















