B24 liberator found in australia

[Little Jo]

Hi All

A mate of mine advised he had heard that the fuselage of a B24 Liberator was found in the backyard of a property in Frankston and that he believed it was taken to Werribee and was currently being restored. Some quick checks found a sitew that explaiens it all. Very interesting site.

http://b24australia.org.au/

Cheers

Tony

[Keith Webb]

I've filmed there a couple of times over the years. It's been a long, huge project with several ex B24 aircrew involved including Ed Crabtree who was one of the last (if not the last) to fly that aircraft.

Here's a pic of Ed some years ago.



More info and pics here and here.

[Ganmain Tony]

Were these blokes on Australian Story a few years back?

[Ryan]

Been there myself a couple of years ago for a visit. It's only a donation to get you in and your free to look around and ask as many questions as you wish.
A great place to visit.

[Luke R]

Originally Posted by Little Jo

Hi All

A mate of mine advised he had heard that the fuselage of a B24 Liberator was found in the backyard of a property in Frankston and that he believed it was taken to Werribee and was currently being restored. Some quick checks found a sitew that explaiens it all. Very interesting site.

http://b24australia.org.au/

Cheers

Tony

I thought the fuselage came from Moe or Morwell?
If im ever passing through Werribee I like to drop in.
Last time I was there(the sunday after the J Swan clearing sale) they test run one of the twin row radial engines!
Pure engine sound porn!

Luke

[jack neville]

Originally Posted by Dianaa

I seem to remember that the wing spar was retrieved from a swamp in New Guinea with the assistance of the RAAF, and at one stage there was a hope of making it airworthy but after an incident where the airframe was dropped the restoration is continuing as a static display museum piece.

There was never going to be an attempt to make it airworthy. The cost was always against them. The objective was to make it taxi with all engines running. Not sure where though. No where to take it from where it is housed.

[Little Jo]

Hi Guys

Glad to hear from you all that my mate got it right. I will have to go see it when I get a chance. I just love those old planes, the bug bit when I first visited Duxford some years back.

Cheers

Tony

[cantankrs]

Originally Posted by Dianaa

...and at one stage there was a hope of making it airworthy but after an incident where the airframe was dropped the restoration is continuing as a static display museum piece.

I presume you mean when the aircraft was being repositioned in the hanger in advance of the unveiling ceremony the following week. The trolley assembly supporting the nose gear behaved unexpectedly and the leg contacted the hanger floor. I was a spectator there and as Jack Neville pointed out it didn't change the ultimate goal. I can say that I was holding my breath until the chap who had been behind the gear leg was found safe inside the gear bay - thank goodness.

Over the 20+ years since inception of (what I think is currently) the 'B24 Liberator Memorial Restoration Fund', the redevelopment of the Werribee Airfield has encroached and the Committee are always working toward a 'Home'.
Take a look at http://b24australia.org.au/ and I can't locate it on their website but for only around $30/yr you can become a Fund member and thus financially support a good cause.
Regardless of being a member or not, Donations can be made via the website and I believe are tax deductible.
Also I think you can still actively assist by working hands-on on the B24 and their other projects if you're interested.

I am a member, I've been there once on a weeklong working camp (from t'other side of Australia), and I think any support would help.

Alex

[Frank O]

I could not get the link to work? Can you confirm it please? Thanks-frank

[Richard Farrant]

hi Frank,
it works here OK

[Darrin Wright]

Looking at the interest in this plane, I thought I would share some of my pics with you.
A good book to read is 'The Best in the South West' history of the 380th Bombardment Group who flew with many Australians and operated B-24s.

[motto]

I lived in the same street as a member of 24 Squadron. I got to know Lindsay as I went to school with his son and he (Lindsay) became a life long friend until his death a few years ago. He had first done a tour of duty with No 11 Squadron on Catalina flying boats as a flight engineer. He was then retrained as a flight engineer on B24s serving with 24 Squadron and as part of mixed crews with the 380th Bombardment Group.

He had many interesting stories to tell and I listened closely as there is nothing like hearing it from someone who was there.

David

[Mike K]

What a shame that those B24's at Tocumwal were chopped up in situ on the old airfield . Early 1950's ? I think it was Hughes at Coburg who did the actual scrapping - ax chopping . If only somebody back then had the foresight to save one or two of them . But , at the time, hanger space wasn't available I guess .

Or maybe the US govt. made a demand that they be scrapped . A lend lease requirement or something .

[Keith Webb]

Hughes Trading were involved but the main scrappie was RH Grant. There were smelters set up on site. Hughes were mainly interested in the mechanical parts they could resell to farmers such as cabling, chains, that sort of thing. They once cut the wings off an Anson and towed it to the yard in Coburg.

Here's the Hughes Trading F15 in action at Tocumwal.



The same truck in the 1970s at the yard in Coburg.

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

What a shame that those B24's at Tocumwal were chopped up in situ on the old airfield . Early 1950's ? I think it was Hughes at Coburg who did the actual scrapping - ax chopping . If only somebody back then had the foresight to save one or two of them . But , at the time, hanger space wasn't available I guess .

Or maybe the US govt. made a demand that they be scrapped . A lend lease requirement or something .