By Esther Lauaki
The restoration of a B-24 Liberator bomber in Werribee has been a labour of love for volunteers for more than two decades.
The rare World War II aircraft, said to be the only one left in the Southern hemisphere, is at the heart of the B-24 Liberator Memorial Restoration Fund museum which is holding an open day on May 5.
Restoration fund president Lyn Gorman said the open day is an opportunity for people to “get a sense of the scale of the aircraft restoration project”.
“We’re often told by people that they’ve driven past and they’ve never stopped in to see what was inside that big green hangar,” Ms Gorman said.
“It’s surprising that people don’t know what we’re about.
“B-24 Liberator bomber long-range aircrafts were used by the Americans and Australians during WWII.
“Our RAAF acquired 287 of them during the war and they were really important, particularly in the war in the Pacific.
“They were nearly all scrapped by 1945.”
Ms Gorman said the group would also welcome more volunteers to come aboard.
“Some volunteers are well into their 90s,” she said.
“There is a lot of work to be done and more restoration projects happening.”
Details: www.b24australia.org.au
