April, 2015
Museum Update
We’ve had a meeting with Places Victoria and Melbourne Water and are still basically in the same place. Even though we have the land and building we can do nothing until Heritage give us a permit. At the moment Heritage have asked for further information: a structural engineer’s report on H1 and a quote to move H1. We have to wait on their decision once these reports are received which will take another 60 days from that point.
We know how frustrating this whole saga is and we are trying to find a way forward. Best thing so far: we do have a permanent home.
On a more positive note we have asked Andrew Elsbury to continue on in an active role in the restoration. He will be our Mentor in matters relating to the museum complex. We thank him for his willingness to continue working with us.
Membership
It’s that time of year again and membership renewals are due. If you haven't received your form by mail, please click here for a Membership Renewal form.
If you require a receipt to include in your tax return please return the renewal before the middle of June to allow us time to mail it out to you.
Membership is still $33 for the year.
Please note, on the renewal form, we have printed bank details. If you want to pay directly from your bank please use this option. However, for our records, it is important that you return your form.
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A Slogan
Michael Boland who looks after the website for us has suggested we have a slogan for use on the website, Face Book and official paperwork. We canvassed the hangar workers and Committee and came up with several suggestions. We now ask for your involvement in the final decision.
On your renewal form you will find the 2 most popular suggestions. If you want to have a say please put a tick in the box beside the slogan you prefer (This is not compulsory).
If you don’t like either suggestion we welcome your ideas.
Lukas White (Potent Web) our webmaster is in the middle of updating our website. We hope to have a decision on the slogan so it can be unveiled when the website update is completed.
Liberator Update: by John Morrissy
Currently we are working on fitting the fuselage and wing fairings. The buckled fuselage skin on the left hand side is being straightened so that the fairing fits. The fairings at leading and trailing edges are ready to be fixed on both sides of the fuselage.
Roger clamping the edges of the buckled part of the fuselage. It is straightening out.
The tab mechanism components and housing components are in progress (includes parts manufactured by Aikman Engineering). A hangar worker is getting the epicyclic gear sets of the tab indicator mechanism made.
Mounting plates for the flap pulley brackets are being fitted to the brackets prior to installation on the wing. The assembling of the electrical/instrument cable looms continues.
Investigation of suitable cleaning systems for the centre wing continues. Vice President, Ken Abbot, is following up with BOC on a blast system using dry ice. Such a system would eliminate the dust issue. As you can imagine removing or touching parts of the plane that have stood untouched for years, creates clouds of dust: the minimising of this is a priority.
Oxford Update: by Ken Hindle
Work is proceeding slowly but this is the way it must happen as the work is so precise. We’ve just completed making the last two ribs and fitting them in the spar has begun.
We’ve also begun the rib work for the cockpit floor. As always funding is a problem but we’re looking at applying for a suitable grant.
Ribs fitted in the spar. The curve of the ribs has to be exact.
Hangar Surrounds
We consider it an important part of our community involvement to keep the surrounds of the hangar looking attractive. Joe Sammartino and John Hamilton do a great job of mowing and gardening. John recently mowed the entire area of our land so we can clearly see the extent of the land given to us. It makes planning much easier when boundaries are clearly defined.
Most photos in this newsletter courtesy of Dave Miller. Thanks Dave.
Special Pop-Up Display 16th May
"They Couldn’t Get Home Quick Enough" B-24 Liberators and the Repatriation of POWs 1945.
This display is going to be great. We have collected so much information, most of it not before displayed, that it will add appreciably to the historical record.
Kitty Owens, our Roving Curator, has been very useful, full of practical ideas. She has visited the hangar once and will return again in a few days time to look at progress. She will also assist us to mount the display on panels.
Kitty spoke with Nat Eichler who took part in the repatriation flights. During the conversation Nat told her the prisoners couldn’t get home quick enough. Kitty felt this comment summed it all up so we’ve made it the title of the exhibition.
The display will be at the hangar corner Farm Rd and Princes H’way Werribee; Melways reference 205 F10 on Saturday 16th May between 10.30 and noon. We hope to have 4 speakers, people who took part in this exercise to get POWs home. We’ll also have displays of maps, memoirs, log book entries, memoirs written by the people involved and a TV display. We are in the process of putting together a booklet of the memoirs, statistics and some logbook pages. We felt the facts were too good to only have one "airing". This book will be on sale at the display and, later, in the hangar shop.
After the speakers have finished, visitors will be able to tour the hangar, talk to the people who wrote some of the memoirs, talk about the statistics of the exercise and look inside the Liberator so as to get a clear picture of the hardship of these flights as well as the compassion of personnel who tried to make the experience as tolerable as possible.
If you wish to attend you must make a booking. Please contact Lyn on:
0488 588 011 or lyn_gorman@hotmail.com
Entry is $5 per adult or child, $18 per family group.
Morning tea will be served.
This display is part of the National Trust annual Heritage Trail that runs this year, from 18th April to 26th May. Events are held state wide and details are published in the Festival booklet available on line at the National Trust website.
Our display will run for two weeks from 16th May so, if you are unable to come on that day you still have the opportunity to see the exhibits after that date: but you will miss out on the speakers.
Home
Four of us, plus drop-ins, work in this space. It’s very cosy and we do play musical desks a lot.
Boomerang
At home under the Liberator’s wing.
Nicholas Knight, owner of the Boomerang currently in the restoration hangar, became interested in the plane because of his grandfather’s involvement with the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation.
Pictured, Herbert Harry Knight; Nick’s grandfather
Herbert Harry Knight was appointed General Manager of CAC in 1960 on the recommendation of Sir Lawrence Wackett when he retired from the position.
Herb was born in 1904 in Brisbane and graduated as an engineer from Brisbane University in 1926. He went to England and worked at the Westland Aircraft Works where he worked on the Wessex.
He returned to Australia and worked as a technical officer with the Directorate of Technical Services at RAAF headquarters in Melbourne until 1937.
In October, 1934 Herb was responsible for compiling the timing results of the Melbourne leg of the MacRobertson Centenary Air Race. This race had a huge impact on civil aviation in Australia.
In 1937 Herb was recruited to CAC where he became involved in the building of airframes and engines. Building engines had not yet been undertaken in Australia.
During WW2 CAC produced more than 1200 aircraft: the Wirraway (757), the Wackett Trainer (202), the Boomerang (250) and the Mustang (200).
Herb was heavily involved in building engines for these aircraft.
He was GM of CAC until 1970. His period at CAC covered a dramatic time in the development of aircraft and flight.
8th February 1945
On this day, six B-24 Liberators of 24 Squadron took off from Truscott (WA) to attack hydro-electric power installations at Siman and Mandalan 80 km SW of Surabaya, Java. This was the second raid: the first was abandoned due to bad weather, the second had occurred on 5th February. The raids followed weeks of planning and tracking by 82 Wing. Most of the aircraft encountered bad weather and had to turn back but two Liberators got their bombs on target and cut Eastern Java’s power supply. These power stations on the Konto River were a prime target and were totally destroyed due to theses raids.
The 3700km round trip made these raids the longest mounted from mainland Australia during WW2.
Thanks Andrew for this information
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Squadrons’ Re-union
This is scheduled for April 26th. Numbers have fallen considerably this year but we’re looking forward to the chance to meet up with the veterans still able to make the trip.
Hopefully it will be a memorable day. Jim Johnson, a hangar worker, will have his band playing. Live music will be a change but it won’t interfere with the reminiscing.
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A Recent Visitor
Pictured, Terry Wade
Terry Wade visited with some family members. Terry flew a total of 7000 hours in Liberators, flying from Malaya. He and his family enjoyed being back with the plane where he spent so many hours.
