NINETY years of history will be remembered at Temora next week to mark the 90th anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

Beginning in Temora on Monday March 28th, sixty antique and historic ex-military and civilian aircraft will take part in an air pilgrimage from Temora to Point Cook, stopping in Tocumwal and Ballarat. The aircraft will arrive at Temora throughout the day on Monday with a gala dinner to be held in the Temora Aviation Museum display hangar that night for all event participants. Tuesday morning will see the aircraft commence their departures from Temora, headed for Tocumwal and the Temora Aviation Museum will be offering free admission to all visitors from 8.30am through to Midday to view this historic event take place.

The Air Pilgrimage will be supported by Museum aircraft with the Spitfire Mk VIII, Hudson, Wirraway and Ryan all participating in the event along with many other antique and ex military type aircraft.
RAAF Director of Regional Events, Air Commodore Rod Luke AM said Temora, Tocumwal and Ballarat played an important role in Air Force history as regional bases. “They have been chosen because of the significant history of these three bases as World War II aircraft training locations,” he said. “It is good for us to stop every now and again and reflect on our history and the service the Air Force has provided.”

We want to encourage everyone to help celebrate this milestone by either visiting the Museum or the airfields at Tocumwal, Ballarat or Point Cook.

 Temora Aviation Museum is eagerly anticipating a visit from the Sky-crane known as “SHANIA” at its flying days this weekend.
The CH-54 Sky-crane Helitanker is the most versatile, powerful, and cost effective aerial firefighter in the world. Since certification in 1992, the helitanker has seen worldwide service, fighting fires in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Borneo, Italy, Greece, France, Turkey, and Australia. The helitankers are leased worldwide to organisations, companies, and Federal Agencies for either short-term or longer term use in Fire Suppression, Civil Protection, Heavy Lift Construction, and Timber Harvesting. Australia has contracted Helitanker services during every fire season since November 1997.
The helitankers are heavy vertical lift helicopters fitted with high capacity belly tanks. The microprocessor controlled tank system is capable of delivering multiple drops. The belly tank doors offer a range of options for controlling coverage levels of the suppressant delivered to the ground. The tank is fitted with a fast self-fill snorkel that allows it to hover-fill from a variety of water sources. The helitankers are also fitted with a snorkel device that allows the helitanker to fill from salt-water sources during forward flight.
•   The Sky-crane can be fitted with a 2,650-gallon (10,000 litres) fixed retardant tank to assist in the control of bushfires, and it has acquitted itself admirably in this role.
•   It has a lift capacity of 25,000 lbs (12.5 tons) at sea level
•   A flexible hose snorkel features a high pressure impeller and can draw water from any water source 18 inches (45 cm) or deeper.
•   The patented ram scoop hydrofoil allows the Helitanker to refill from fresh water and sea water sources in less than 45 seconds.
•   Water tank capacity is 7,500 litres
•   Length: 27.23m
•   Height 7.82m
“Shania” will arrive at the Museum on Saturday 17th February for display during the Museum flying day programme. A large crowd is expected to come out and see the magnificent machine up close. It will depart Temora on Sunday afternoon.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to see a Sky-crane up close.

VP Day Celebrations at Canberra

Seven aircraft from the Temora Aviation Museums collection flew to Canberra over the weekend to participate in the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II – Victory in the Pacific (VP Day) August 15. The celebrations and exhibits were held over three days on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin and were themed as a Salute to Veterans. The Museums participation was concentrated mainly within Sundays events, where we were fortunate to have sunny weather. For those of you that visited the VP Day celebrations in Canberra but were unable to see the Museums aircraft up close, check them out at Temora Aviation Museums Flying Weekend on August 27 and 28.

The Museums promotion stand was taken to Canberra and it proved to be a popular attraction. Likewise, a busy time was had by the Museums engineering team, whom spent most of their time frantically fuelling and preparing the Museums aircraft, ready for flight above Lake Burley Griffin. We would like to thank Museum Crew member and aircraft historian Peter Anderson for the fantastic job he did with providing commentary throughout the event.

The Museum was also fortunate to have an F-111 visit briefly in the afternoon of Saturday 13. The F-111 flew with the Museums Canberra and Hudson for a formation practice in preparation for Sundays display.

Flying Weekend

The Museum continues its celebration of VP Day with our next Flying Weekend which will occur on August 27 and 28. Visitors can expect to see history come alive as the Museums fleet take to the skies above the Museum. The Museum is also pleased to announce that Col Pay is bringing his magnificent P-40E Kittyhawk and CAC Mustang for the weekend. Cols P-40E is painted in the colours of RAAF 3 Squadrons desert camouflage scheme. The aircraft carries the markings of Bobby Gibbes AM WG CMR DSO DFC* and is complete with a replica of the original nose art.

Another attraction to this coming Flying Weekend will be the attendance of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Roulette Aerobatic Team on the Sunday only. The Roulettes are always a popular attraction due to their skilled manoeuvres in synchronisation. The Museum looks forward to their involvement.

Museum Flying Days involve interesting commentary, interviews with the pilots and a selection of background music. Visitors can get up close to the aircraft and pilots during the ramp talk session, which occurs at the end of the day. This opportunity can be used to ask the pilots any questions, obtain autographs or get close photographic shots of the aircraft.

The Temora Aviation Museums Lockheed Hudson has returned to the Museum resplendent in its new paint scheme.

The paint scheme is representing an A16-211 Hudson III bomber that served with No.6 Squadron RAAF during the decisive Battle for Milne Bay and later with No.2 Squadron in the North Western Area (Timor/Dutch East Indies -Indonesia).

The battle at Milne Bay occurred during August 1942 and was the first time that a Japanese invasion force was defeated anywhere in the Pacific/China/South East Asia area. A handful of Australian troops supported by two RAAF P-40 Kittyhawk squadrons and six Hudsons from 6 and 32 Squadrons RAAF fought off the Japanese in what proved to be the turning point of the war in the Pacific.

A16-211 survived Milne Bay and was flown to No.5 Air Depot at Wagga where it received a complete overhaul then transferred to No.2 Squadron flying out of Millingimbi in the Northern Territory. Together with four other Hudsons, A16-211 carried out an armed reconnaissance to Maikor and Taberfane (both Japanese floatplane bases) in the Aru Islands on 7th May 1943. One of the Hudsons was shot down by a floatplane fighter, while the other Hudsons received various degrees of damage. On returning to Millingimbi A16-211s undercarriage gave way and the aircraft ground looped. It was severely damaged and was converted to components. The remains of this aircraft are still at Millingimbi to this day. The Museums Hudson is painted to represent this aircraft that performed vital missions in the defence of Australia in the early days of the Pacific War.

The aircrafts representation of a Hudson that fought at the epic battle of Milne Bay honours both the pilots and ground crews that flew and maintained these aircraft in close quarters combat with Japanese troops who were quite literally fighting at the end of the runways from which the Hudsons were flying.

Peter Anderson, Museum Crew member, undertook considerable detailed research for the Hudsons paint scheme before the colours were matched and the final drawings for the camouflage and nose art were prepared. Irvine Signs in Temora produced the spray masks for the nose art and the many maintenance stencils that complete the aircraft’s authentic paint scheme. Worland Aviation Services in Albury NSW undertook the painting job and turned out a fantastic result.

The Hudsons first public appearance in its new scheme shall be at the “Salute to Veterans” (VP Day) air pageant to be held at Canberra on 14th August. The Museum is providing a strong presence at the pageant which commemorates the 60th Anniversary of the end of WWII. As well as the Hudson, Temora’s contribution to the display includes the Spitfire, Canberra, Meteor, Vampire, Cessna O-2A and Tiger Moth.

Due to this group of aircraft participating in the large event at Canberra on Sunday 14 August, Temora Aviation Museum will only have a few aircraft on display at home base.

To see the Hudson up close for yourself – come to our next flying days here at the Temora Aviation Museum on August 27 and 28.

With the Museum’s staff in high gear preparing for this coming weekend, it was important that we took time out yesterday to remember all those service men and women who gave their lives so that Australia can enjoy a freedom that is envied the world over. We also give thanks to those currently serving at home and abroad, carrying on the Aussie ‘Digger’ tradition. The Temora Aviation Museum sincerely hopes that through the public flying displays we conduct, we may act as a link to keep alive the memory of men and machines that are Australia’s aviation heritage. (more…)

Currently all participants are on track to attend the Museums November 15th and 16th flying weekend, which will provide a unique blend for all aviation enthusiasts and photo buffs alike.
The Museum is eagerly anticipating participation from the RAAF Roulettes, HARS Catalina and RAAF Museum Point Cook with some of their aircraft. We would love to see as many people attend as possible to help us celebrate the Centenary of Flight. In addition to meeting visitors on Saturday afternoon, the RAAF Roulettes will be signing autographs Sunday morning between 1000 and 1030.
Today the Museum had a special visit by veteran members of 3 Squadron RAAF. The Museum’s DH82 was able to fly a couple of circuits to add some ambiance and hopefully rekindle many nostalgic memories for them.