B-25 Out to Australia

[Phil Waterman]

Hi All

Was watching old VHS tapes, and one of them was PBS documentary dated 1984 about the restoration, preparation and actual flight out to Australia. Toward the end it mentions that the B-25 was destined for a museum, I believe the Australian War Memorial, but first a few more years of flying.

My question did it make it to the Museum or is it still flying?

Cheers Phil

PS While I still have a working VHS machine I've been watching old tapes to see what I had on them, over 100 tapes most recorded at extended play so thats like 600 hours. Tape # is dated 1980. Watch/listening to them while I'm working in the shop. Primarily looking for family stuff to embarrass my kids with.

[Lang]

Phil

You want to get your tapes (particularly ones of the kids) copied to DVD as soon as possible. Bit of a miracle you could play something from 1980!

I went through my huge set of VHS docos last year and almost all of them were failing and the great majority gone forever. The sound seems to last a lot longer but all you get is fuzzy lines on the screen.

Lang

[Mike Cecil]

Tha B25 flew for a short time in Aust, then went to the AWM. It was sold by auction some years later - I understand it was the wrong model B25 and therefore was not as appropriate for the collection as it should have been, (and took up a lot of room which could be occupied by more appropriate items). The buyer(s) were in the USA and it was exported there, but was damaged during handling while being transferred from the ship to the dock. Don't know what happened to it after that.

It was before my time at the AWM, but I do remember seeing it both flying at Ballarat (when we were all treated to some magnificent flying of the Hawker Sea Fury), then later in storage at Mitchell.

Mike

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

It looks like another border raid has happened. Here is an article date 2015 Neglected B-25 to Resettle in Australia Accessed November 14 2016 from, http://www.warbirdsnews.com/warbirds...australia.html

There is a Facebook link on its steady restoration process Accessed November 14 2016 from, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Reeve...274607?fref=nf

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Mike Kelly]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

flying at Ballarat (when we were all treated to some magnificent flying of the Hawker Sea Fury), then later in storage at Mitchell.

Mike

It was a freezing cold Ballarat weekend - in the middle of normally the hottest month, February. We slept in the old WW2 barracks , formerly a WAGS school . I was on the air with a 122 wireless set in the back of the Fordson WOT2D, I was worried that the airport authorities would close me down. The amateur radio regulations book stated, transmitting on a operational airfield is a big no no . A club member got into strife with a prank on the runway .. a VW beetle , no names will be entered into the log book.

The WOT2 beside John Carrol's Morris CS8 at the airfield display Feb. 1985

[Mike Cecil]

That would be this one, Mike!

Wholly moved by the prop on the front, powered by the engine in the back seat. The Dept of Civil Aviation airfield manager was NOT amused at running it up and down 'his' airfield!

The late Geoff Dennis is in the passenger seat ....

Of course, I am unable to recall the inventor/driver's name!!!

[Keith Webb]

One of the crew on the flight of the B25 to Australia was none other than 'Ando' - Peter Anderson whom I know well through our mutual connection with the Temora Aviation Museum. Ando often does the show commentary, not only at Temora but also at other shows around Australia and New Zealand.