A north Queensland historian has uncovered the truth about an enduring rumour of a mutiny by US soldiers that threatened the security of Townsville during World War II.

Cultural heritage consultant Ray Holyoak knew there was an interesting story when he uncovered a buried 1942 report by US journalist Robert Sherrod with the opening line: “One of the biggest stories of the war which can't be written, which should be written, is the mutiny among negro troops which took place in Townsville.”

Documents found by Mr Holyoak reveal African-American troops used machine guns and anti-aircraft weapons to attack their white officers in a siege on a US base in Townsville in 1942.

“An African-American first soldier was shot and killed by one of these white officers and then several ringleaders from Chicago plotted to kill these two very racist white officers,” he said.

Mr Holyoak described the US army base as “a recipe for disaster”.