Warbirds

“The two Lancasters’ tour commemorates the shared experience of UK and Canadian pilots during WW2 in which 50,000 RCAF aircrew served with Bomber Command,” according to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. “Of the nearly56,000 Bomber Command aircrew who died during WW2, some 10,000 were Canadians serving either in RAF or RCAF squadrons. Canadians served all four RAF Commands – Bomber, Fighter, Coastal and Transport Command, and 16 per cent of all gallantry awards to air force personnel were made to RCAF personnel, including two VCs. ” Observed Air Officer Commanding 1 Group, Air Vice-Marshal Stuart Atha after the Lancaster’s arrival at RAF Coningsby, pilot Don Schofield and crew had “flown her across rather a lot of water, dodging quite a few thunderstorms. They might not have been Messerschmitts, but the challenge was significant nonetheless. ” First flown in 1941, more than 7,000 Lancasters were built during WW2 in England and Canada but now only these two remain airworthy.

The Canadian aircraft, dubbed Vera for its squadron code VR‑A, is operated by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario. It was carefully inspected and had new tyres and propellers installed and the radio system updated. Each of the Canadian Lancaster’s four engines was overhauled in 2013 – at a cost of around $500,000.

“Keeping these aircraft flying is a labour of love, helping us recall the difficult and dangerous work undertaken on a daily and nightly basis by the airmen and groundcrews of the RAF and RCAF,” Canadian Air Attaché Brigadier General Matthew Overton said.

Eight people, including five crew and two documentary filmmakers, made the trans-Atlantic trek aboard the 69-year-old bomber that was restored in 1988. The total cost of the round trip to the UK is estimated at some $750,000.

Two complete Lancasters exist in Australia – at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra and the Aviation Heritage Museum in Perth.

Celebrating 40 years

The Queensland Air Museum (QAM) at Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast has put out a new book, Forty Years On, Celebrating 40 years. The book chronicles the development of the museum from its birth and the acquisition of a Canberra bomber through to the F-111 that the museum obtained last year.

Written by QAM member Don Cameron, the history of each of the museum aircraft is well written. The soft cover book contains numerous colour photos in its 260 pages.

The QAM aircraft collection at Caloundra is probably the largest air museum collection in Australia. It is well worth visiting.

Copies can be obtained from QAM – ring the musuem on 07 5492 5930 or visit www. qam. com. au. It is priced at $55 per copy plus P&P.

Four Men and the Walrus

Another recent book release, but not a museum book, is Four Men and the Walrus. The ‘top secret’ mission to rescue the family of General Charles de Gaulle in 1940.

This new book is about the failed rescue mission that resulted in the fatal crash of the Supermarine Walrus, L2312, that flew to France to try and recover the de Gaulle family. Of the four on board two were RAAF members and they became the first RAAF crew to die in WW2. Written by Melbourne writer Alan Hall, who travelled to France to be at the June 16 and 18 memorial services at two towns in Brittany – Carantec and Ploudaniel – that were attended by more than 500 people, including the families of the four men involved in the mission and three members of RAAF No. 10 Squadron. The book is available from www. bookstore. bookpod. com. au for $29. 95 plus postage.

Register news

From Masterton, New Zealand comes news that The Vintage Aviator Ltd has put a Bristol F. 2bFighter on the NZ register as ZK‑VTV. With c/n or serial as C794 it went on the register on July 27.

The Vintage Aviator Ltd is to send or export a number of its vintage WW1 original and replica aircraft to the UK to start a WW1 airfield and display. This will be at Stow Maries, near Maldon, Essex. The aircraft said to be going to the UK site include a BE2c, Airco DH2, RAF F. E. 2b and a Farman F. 20. Others will follow.

In Australia Cessna 336 VH‑GKY, c/n 0164, has been struck off the register on August 1 as being withdrawn from use after receiving severe damage following a hailstorm. This would be the last of the fixed gear ‘push-pull’ Cessna series flying in Australia.

Piper PA-20 Pacer VH-TPH, c/n 20-1103, changed owners on July 18 to Ian Pearce of Yass, NSW while Boeing A75 Stearman VH-HYU, c/n 75-909, changed owners on July 18 to Geoff Davis of Salisbury, South Australia to join his collection of antique aircraft.

Beech D17-S VH-FNS, c/n 3108, changed owners on July 14 to Cameron Hawley of Auchenflower, Queensland. Readers may recall this aircraft was damaged in an accident following engine problems on May 31 at Dardanup, near Bunbury, WA.

A much travelled Iroquois

Iroquois A2-296 probably never travelled so far so fast in its life, but the machine recently was transported across the country, from East to West, by low loader for a new life in the Aviation Heritage Museum at Bull Creek, WA.

The machine left Damascus Barracks in Queensland on July 24 and ‘landed’ at the museum on July 29. It will be put on display in a purpose-built Vietnam War heritage display.

The helicopter never saw action but was used by 35 Squadron for training before being transferred to the Army in the 1980s. It has the distinction of being the last Huey tobe flown by a RAAF crew. Because of this it is marked in both Army and Air Force markings.

Hidden in a dusty hangar

A treasure trove unearthed! That is one way some would describe the recent ‘For Sale’ sign that Platinum Fighter Sales has put up on the Edwards collection at Big Springs, Texas.

The collection to be sold, in part, comprises four single-seat Bf-109G fighters, in fact Hispano HA-1112 Buchon fighters of 1954 vintage. Also for sale is a two-seat HA-1112 Buchon, the only one of its kind left in the world. All are Roll-Royce Merlin engine-powered. A Supermarine Mk XI Spitfire, N415MH, ex MH415, is in the sales group.

The Buchons and the Spitfire were last flown in the 1969 film Battle of Britain. After the film was completed the aircraft were taken as payment for services by Wilson Connell ‘Connie’ Edwards and stored in the family facilities at Big Spring, Texas.

Part of the sales package includes a North American P-51D, N38227, ex 44‑74902, that has not flown for some 31 years. It last flew with a South American air force.

In brief

De Havilland DH. 82a Tiger Moth VH-BBC was damaged during a takeoff accident at Toowoomba, Queensland on Saturday August 2. The aircraft is reported to have been hit by a gusty crosswind and ended up with nose and wing damage after passing through a fence. The pilot was unhurt. The Airshows Down Under event at Avalon, Victoria next year will include a segment celebrating the memory of the first year of WW1 and will include a number of replica and maybe original WW1 aircraft. The aircraft will be sourced from several locations including local and abroad.