December, 2015 News
Annual General Meeting 2015
Thanks to all those who sent proxy forms. With your help we had a quorum for the meeting. Lyn Gorman presented the President’s Report. She commented on the progress made this year, particularly the assistance from Museums Australia Victoria (MAV) in the museum accreditation process and the National Trust display in May that dealt with the repatriation of WW2 POWs back to Australia after the war, an event in which Liberators participated. She also stressed the importance of club and group visits to the hangar. These group events make up a large part of our visitor numbers and help spread the word about the restoration. Lyn also thanked Nat Eichler, Dave Miller and Judy Gilbert for their support of her as President and for the roles they play in the general running of the hangar. We have an increasing presence on social media. The Face Book page is well established and has over 2000 “friends”. Our web page has recently been upgraded and is well worth a look on www.b24australia.org.au And we are represented on Trip Advisor, a travel app, and have achieved a good rating there. Lyn also
commented on our participation in the Deakin University student placement programme. To assist us in the accessioning of books in the archives Melissa Hobbs from Deakin, has recently completed her work placement. She has prepared a plan for us to continue with the establishment of the library. Lyn also commented on the frustration experienced by members waiting for Heritage Victoria to reach a decision on our future. An Auditor’s report was not available to present to the AGM. The previous Treasurer has suffered from ill health so the financial records have not been kept up to date. Our new Treasurer, Murray Spowart, now has the books and will get matters up to date. An Auditor’s Report will be done as soon as possible. Life membership was awarded to Judy Gilbert.
We’re really interested in the AGM!
Ken Bullen Award
This award is presented annually to a hangar crew member who has been nominated for outstanding commitment to the restoration. The hangar crew nominate and vote on this award. The award was hotly contested this year with 5 hangar crew nominated:
Tony Maher Dave Miller John Hamilton Tony Muller Ken Hindle
The Ken Bullen Award 2015 is won by: TONY MAHER
Museum Update Report
The Heritage Architect, requested a meeting with the sub-committee dealing with Heritage. This was held at the hangar on Wednesday 8th October. The first question was whether or not B-24 was prepared to accept H1 if it were to be totally refurbished to meet modern occupancy standards and then moved beside H2. He was told that that was acceptable to the group, subject to certain conditions. The architect reported that access to H1 had now been granted so he had completed the visual inspection of the building. The structural engineer was inspecting it so he could write a report and the timber expert would look at the trusses on 9th October specifically at the strength of the connectors and the condition of the timber. He would inspect stress levels on the timber to determine whether or not steel needed to be used as reinforcement. All 3 would then submit their reports to Heritage for consideration. The architect has to also prepare a cost comparison between: ? Cost of total refurbishment of H1 so that it meets modern standards for occupancy plus the cost of moving the structure from its present location to beside H2. ? Cost of building the new hangar, H6, plus cost of building and installing the truss array as a display outside H2. Heritage will use the 3 reports plus the cost comparison to make their decision. They are definitely in favour of the H1, H2 combination.
A72-176
Our aircraft, A72-176 on the strip at Tocumwal during WW2. This is the only photo we have of 176 during her service as a crew training aircraft. Ken Abbott has photoshopped it to make it clearer. We would appreciate more photos of 176 so if you happen to have any we would be very happy to have copies for our archives. If any of you would like a copy of this photo please contact us and we can send a digital copy.
National Trust
Next year the Trust is running its annual Heritage Trail from 16th April to 29th May. The theme is “Discovery and Rediscovery”. We have decided to have an exhibition based on Werribee Field. As part of the programme we will organise, subject to Melbourne Water’s approval, a walking tour of part of the airfield. We have wartime maps of the field and there are sufficient remains to make the tour an interesting one. We will also incorporate information about Werribee pre and post war. Joe Sammartino is researching these times. If you have any information/pictures/maps etc from this era we would like to talk to you. Dave Miller has already prepared a booklet on Werribee Field but the more information we can collect/preserve the better. Our tour will be Saturday 7th May 2016.
Photographic Record
The Australian Institute of Professional Photographers has arranged to make a photographic record of surviving WW2 RAAF personnel. The portraits of the men will be taken at local RSLs, each participant will receive a copy and a copy of each will be placed in the National Archives in Canberra. We have registered Ed Crabtree, Nat Eichler, Vern Roberts and John Temby for this programme.
B-24 Liberator Update
The four bomb bay doors have been installed and look great. The port side front door still needs some work but once that is done the doors will finally operate. The saddle which goes on top of the fuselage over the wing has been installed: the dinghy storage is incorporated into the saddle. The upper turret dome is installed. The aim is to make the fuselage visually complete and this is well on the way. We now have three components operating. We are able to demonstrate the workings of the radio, the radar and the Norden bombsight. Visitors are really interested in these.
Bomb bay doors in place.
Oxford Update
The Oxford is making great progress and the “Oxford boys” have plans for world domination (or at least a hangar take-over). Centre section is 85% complete: the main wing spars are also 85% finished.. They plan to start work early next year on fitting the spars onto the wings. The standard of woodwork is terrific. Some parts look more like art work than aircraft manufacture.
And their section of the hangar has a lovely woody smell really different to the rest of the area.
Part of the spar: a work of art.
Why the RAAF Needed Navigators.
On 14th February 1942 an instructor and four trainee pilots from No 6 Service Flying Training School based at Mallawa flew an Anson on a night flying exercise. All trainees took a turn at calculating drift caused by wind. When they finished the pilot prepared to land and asked for information. But, as they had flown several different headings, no one knew their precise location. Normally this would not have been a problem as they would have picked up the lights of towns and been able to get their location from these. However the Japanese had just landed in New Guinea so Australians had pulled their blinds down and switched off external lights. Without radio and in a “brown-out” they were lost. Eventually they thought they could identify a distinctive point at the top of Spencer Gulf: they were running low on fuel. One trainee volunteered to parachute down and ask someone in Port Augusta to switch on the airfield lights. He jumped out into the darkness. The pilot decided one trainee jumping out wasn’t enough so another made the jump. Then the pilot saw a salt lake and decided to land as the fuel supply was dangerously low. He landed safely and the two trainees who baled out were very surprised to meet each other on a gloomy street in Point Augusta. (From “Chased by the Sun” by Hank Nelson.) Thanks Andrew
Cubs Visit Hangar
The Cub groups from Altona combined for a visit to the hangar. 83 Cubs and Leaders attended and we all had a great night. A question sheet was provided so that the Cubs had something definite to find and there was great excitement as they searched for the ball turret and the saddle and Hazel. The Cubs divided into groups and some looked around the hangar while others worked on craft projects for their Craft Badge. The groups swapped places during the night. The group was very well behaved and it was a pleasure to work with them.
We’ve found the ball turret!
Working on the Craft Badge.
THE HANGAR CREW
SENDS CHRISTMAS WISHES
TO ALL OUR MEMBERS
AND SPONSORS.
AND A HAPPY AND HEALTHY
2016
