Warbirds #397 | Avro Lancaster ‘G for George’ dismantled

For this restoration, there was some debate initially about the aircraft’s serial number, however, the consensus ultimately determined the plane as A29-90. The aircraft took part in the Battle of Milne Bay in New Guinea between August and September 1942, flown by Flying Officer Peter Ash of No. 76 Squadron. Notably, this was the first major battle in the Pacific that saw allied forces, led predominantly by Australians, take a decisive victory.

Flying Officer Ash was credited with a confirmed aerial victory against an enemy aircraft, the first for No. 76 Squadron over Milne Bay, and landed safely in Gurney Field despite being hit several times by enemy fire. A29-90 was returned to Australia and continued to fly for another two years as a training aircraft before being damaged beyond repair amid a forced landing in 1944.

In an absolute labour of love, A29-90, named Ming the Merciless, underwent a 13-year restoration process to bring her back to life. Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Stephen Chappell said at the unveiling that by restoring this aircraft, the RAAF was “preserving the stories of the men” who flew the type throughout the war. “Our Air Force has an incredibly proud history, especially the history of our aviators during the Second World War – they were daring, brave and endured unimaginable danger and sacrifice,” he said. The aircraft will remain on permanent display at the RAAF Museum in Point Cook, the first and only Kittyhawk in the current collection.

Restored DC-3 Dakota sees a revamp in regional NSW

Meanwhile, the NSW government unveiled its own successful restoration project – a WWII-era Douglas DC-3 Dakota. After standing proudly on display in Lions Park, West Wyalong, since 1983, the DC-3 was certainly due a refresh. As such, the NSW government awarded a grant of $167,670 to Bland Shire Council in order to upgrade the display aircraft, including site works and concreting to make the fixture more accessible, as well as a total paint strip and repaint. The work was done in partnership with the RAAF’s Heritage Restoration Team, and the newly-upgraded aircraft was unveiled just before ANZAC Day 2025.

While there is not a lot of information about this particular Dakota, we know it was constructed originally in Oklahoma City, US, in 1942, before being delivered to the US Air Force. In 1950, the plane was delivered to the Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm. It stayed with the RAN until 1974, when it was bought as a spares ship for Cootamundra-based airline Masling Airways. The airline’s owner, Jack Masling, later agreed to donate the plane to the West Wyalong Lions Club in 1983, after the club requested the opportunity to restore the aircraft to its former glory and retain this piece of Australian aviation history. Since then, it has stood in Lions Park. Speaking on the project, Bland Shire Council Mayor Cr Brian Monaghan said: “The DC-3 Dakota is a beloved landmark in West Wyalong and this restoration ensures its continued presence as an important part of our community as the plane is not only a piece of the past, but a symbol of our community’s pride, and I’m incredibly pleased about the work that’s gone into it. ”

Avro Lancaster ‘G for George’ dismantled ahead of move

Careful preparations are underway to move the iconic WWII Avro Lancaster Mk I bomber AR-G, also known as ‘G for George’, into the newly expanded Anzac Hall at the Australian War Memorial.

The process will involve carefully deconstructing the plane to allow for safe transportation, and is being overseen by the war memorial’s restoration and preservation team at Treloar Technology Centre.

G for George, operated between 1942 and 1944 by RAAF No. 460 Squadron, under the command of the RAF in Britain, is known to have completed 90 operational missions over Germany and occupied Europe at the height of the war. This makes it one of the most utilised aircraft under RAF Bomber Command. To honour its contribution, shortly after the war ended G for George was designated for preservation in Australia, and necessary overhauls were completed to prepare it for the mammoth flight. G for George arrived in Brisbane on 8 November, 1944, and was flown routinely to drive up engagement during the Third Victory Loan campaign in 1945. Following this, the plane was moved to Canberra’s War Memorial, where it has remained since then.

Today, the memorial’s Anzac Hall is undergoing a massive $500 million expansion and upgrade, including the installation of an angular copper roof to imitate the image of the Rising Sun badge worn by Army. Led by Cox Architecture, the upgrade is going to see an additional 6,500m² of gallery space across two levels, dedicated to the curated collection of artefacts, information and history of the Anzacs. The new roof was completed in March 2025, with all works expected to be completed in advance of Anzac Day 2026. Once successfully reassembled inside the new hall, G for George will once again be heralded as a centrepiece of the upper hall, alongside other never-before-seen artefacts including a German V2 Rocket and Meillerwagen, a C-130 Hercules cockpit, and a CH- 47D Chinook.

Devastation at Avalon 2025

While I am normally eager to write up my post-Avalon round-up, I would be remiss to do so with the same enthusiasm this year. The 2025 airshow and convention – the largest of its kind in Oceania – was muted in tone this year, after an experienced aerial aerobatic pilot suffered life-altering injuries in a crash on the first day of flight displays. Thankfully, pilot Glenn Collins was able to receive emergency surgery and is recovering from his injuries. He has, however, sustained damage to his spine that continues to limit his lower body function. The crash involved a Paul Bennet Airshows Wolf Pitts S-1-11X, piloted by Glenn, and occurred during a four-plane display with the Sky Aces aerobatics team. Crowds were ushered away from view, and the afternoon’s displays were cancelled. While Paul Bennet Airshows removed themselves from the program, the rest of the airshow ultimately continued on as planned. Paul Bennet Airshows commended the medical staff and emergency services who acted quickly to remove Glenn for the plane’s wreck after impact. Thankfully, Glenn is now in recovery and says so far, physical rehabilitation is going well. “I’m giving it my all”, he told ABC. Glenn has been flying advanced aerobatics for over 25 years, and is well-acclaimed for his skills, having won several competitions over the years. We wish him and his family all the best.