Australian War Memorial: 'Big Things In Store'

Australian War Memorial: ‘Big Things In Store’

Dion Makowski of Aviation Report Down Under

On Sunday, September 2, 2023, the Australian War Memorial’s Mitchell Annexe (The Treloar Centre) opened its repurposed industrial buildings to the public, allowing viewing of the reserve collection of airframes, engines, and many, many other artifacts undergoing restoration, or stored, pending future integration into the Memorial’s displays. Dion Makowski of Aviation Report Down Under brings you imagery of this opportunity, a detailed report is also presented on the main Aviation Report page here.

Click on the images for full caption details.

372741940 770851598380684 2551057755225094867 n — The Messerschmitt Me163B-1A Komet W/Nr 191907 (which was AM222 after capture) lost its original scheme in an ill-considered repaint many years ago. A project recently started has found some remnant details as can be seen here on the lower fuselage.[Photo Dion Makowski, Aviation Report Down Under]

372022530 770850631714114 2701687912118128447 n — One of the notable treasures of the Memorial collection, this Messerschmitt Me 262A-1A/Jabo is W/Nr 500200, ‘Black X’, and is still in its original German and new-owners British markings. [Photo Dion Makowski, Aviation Report Down Under]

372005093 770851561714021 3208523915333885976 n — Messerschmitt Bf109G-6AS/G-6 W/Nr 163824. [Photo Dion Makowski, Aviation Report Down Under]

373557327 770850495047461 5337141667181891141 n — The Curtiss P-40E Kittyhawk Mk.1A A29-133 “S / Polly” is a war veteran of the New Guinea campaign, flying with No 75 Squadron RAAF. [Photo Dion Makowski, Aviation Report Down Under]

372624431 770850671714110 533704901257862298 n — McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet A21-22, RAAF 75SQN markings, with at least 62 mission markings on nose. [Photo Dion Makowski, Aviation Report Down Under]

374846731 770851628380681 3512491858242442370 n — Newly restored North American Rockwell OV-10A Bronco 67-14639, was used by Australian Forward Air Controllers on exchange with American forces in Vietnam. [Photo Dion Makowski, Aviation Report Down Under]

371831364 770850561714121 7391719794197870736 n — Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a A2-4, C1916 painted as the wartime “D6950/V” was a postwar Imperial Gift aircraft. [Photo Dion Makowski, Aviation Report Down Under]

372014490 770851258380718 751231337660140926 n — The historic Arco DH.9 G-EAQM “PD” was the first single-engine aircraft to fly from the UK to Australia, and came second in the 1919 Air Race flown by the redoubtable Parer & McIntosh. [Photo Dion Makowski, Aviation Report Down Under]

371899999 770851011714076 1706009913181407372 n — Pfalz D.XII, 2600/18. Evidence suggests this was captured by 4 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, on taking up residence at Bickendorf aerodrome, Cologne 1918. [Photo Dion Makowski, Aviation Report Down Under]

372766759 770851215047389 3418936413427975318 n — Nose of the original Albatros D.VA D.5390/17, was flown by Leutnant Rudolf Clauss and shot down and landed behind Australian trenches. [Photo Dion Makowski, Aviation Report Down Under]

372815472 770850591714118 4343844589876994983 n — The Messerschmitt Bf109G-6AS/G-6, W/Nr 163824, seen sans propeller, head-on. This is another of the very original aircraft in the collection, wearing entirely original paint. [Photo Dion Makowski, Aviation Report Down Under]

Many of the illustrated exhibits are airframes removed during the Memorial’s current refurbishment, including the Lancaster and Kittyhawk, while others have been in store for some time. The proximity of some airframes, such as the Bf 109 and Me 163, and the slightly out-of-place civil registered Parer & McIntosh 1919 air race DH-9, as well as unrestored Japanese exhibits illustrate some changes to AWM collections policy over 80 years.

The open days, normally held annually late in the year are definitely worth a visit – future open days will be advertised on the memorial’s website. Dion Makowski

372819677 770851285047382 8165737147782998794 n — A 100 Squadron RAAF Australian-built (Department of Aircraft Production) Beaufort Mk.VIII A9-557. Recovered in the 1970s by Ian Whitney. [Photo Dion Makowski, Aviation Report Down Under]

372994685 770852041713973 2085181999397588491 n — Douglas C-47B-20-DK Dakota A65-71 military callsign (NOT registration) VHCIN was built as 43-49870. It was flown as a commemorative aircraft by the RAAF for the War Memorial for a number of years. [Photo Dion Makowski, Aviation Report Down Under]

372845722 770850758380768 1723732537952170235 n — Enzian E.1/E.4 (V23), A German surface-to-air missile of WWII, captured by advancing British forces at war’s end. Was once said to have been a product of Messerschmitt works. [Photo Dion Makowski, Aviation Report Down Under]

371859880 770851328380711 976210491571764142 n — V-2 rocket, displayed on the original transport cradle. [Photo Dion Makowski, Aviation Report Down Under]

371927077 770850918380752 2465989747650732506 n — Henschel HS.293B glide bomb. German WWII wire-guided 500-kg anti-ship missile, bomber-launched. [Photo Dion Makowski, Aviation Report Down Under]

372845271 770851838380660 8962626827675657237 n — General Dynamics RF-111C A8-134. Modified to carry reconnaissance equipment. The only operational employment of the RAAF F-111 fleet was when A8-134 flew over East Timor in late 1999 to take aerial images of military forces before East Timor became independent. [Photo Dion Makowski, Aviation Report Down Under]

373300892 770851075047403 8053832076028211650 n — Lockheed C-130H Hercules A97-010. 37 Squadron RAAF carried “Stallion Express” during middle east deployment. Nose section (and vertical stabilizer) removed for the Australian War Memorial. Rest of airframe was to be combined with A97-012 as a C-130J Loadmaster training aid at Richmond. [Photo Dion Makowski, Aviation Report Down Under]

372755726 770851188380725 5202608701411497666 n — Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation built (RR Avon powered) Sabre Mk.32 A94-954, in false USAF colors. [Photo Dion Makowski, Aviation Report Down Under]

371056538 770850841714093 7697433058396241546 n — Rolls Royce Merlin and propeller from Canadian-built CanCar Hurricane 5715 of the RCAF, in which Australian pilot R Bellhouse was killed. Engine recovered from Gaspereau Lake, Nova Scotia. [Photo Dion Makowski, Aviation Report Down Under]

James Kightly (Commissioning Editor)

James Kightly, from Melbourne, Australia, discovered his passion for aviation at the Moorabbin collection in the late 1960s. With over 30 years of writing experience for aviation magazines in the UK, US, Australia, and France, he is a feature writer for Aeroplane Monthly and an advisor for the RAAF History & Heritage Branch.

James has interviewed aviation professionals worldwide and co-runs the Aviation Cultures conferences. He has flown in historic aircraft like the Canadian Warplane Heritage’s Lancaster. At Vintage Aviation News, he ensures accurate and insightful aviation history articles.

Outside aviation, James has worked extensively in the book trade and museums. He supports the Moorabbin Air Museum and the Shuttleworth Collection. James lives in rural Victoria with his wife and dog.

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