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"G for George" is Back!!!!!

PostPosted: Sat Dec 13, 2003 6:28 pm
by Professor Brensec
We have finally got our Lanc back in the Australian War Memorial museum, after a 5 year restoration.

Image

Se all the info at  www.awm.gov.au   ;D ;D :D ;) :o :o 8)

Re: "G for George" is Back!!!!!

PostPosted: Sat Dec 13, 2003 6:29 pm
by Hagar
She's looking great. ;)

Re: "G for George" is Back!!!!!

PostPosted: Sat Dec 13, 2003 7:19 pm
by Politically Incorrect
one word, BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!

Re: "G for George" is Back!!!!!

PostPosted: Sat Dec 13, 2003 7:35 pm
by Professor Brensec
460 Squadron achieved many milestones in Australian military history. It sent more Lancaster on operations and dropped a greater tonnage of bombs than any other squadron in Bomber Command. G for George, the 460 squadron's most famous Lancaster, has been in the collection of the Australian War Memorial since the mid 1950s


I wasn't aware of the 'tonnage' and 'sortes' record by this Australian Squadron. It makes me proud, of course.
However, they also lost the most aircrew, 1048.  :'( And the most Lancs, over 200.  :'(

Re: "G for George" is Back!!!!!

PostPosted: Sat Dec 13, 2003 9:28 pm
by chomp_rock
It looks nice! Now if only CFS3 came with a lanc >:(

Re: "G for George" is Back!!!!!

PostPosted: Sun Dec 14, 2003 12:44 am
by Polynomial
Hey Professor,

The Lanc is sure looking nice! :D and I have actually met and spoken to members of 460 Squadron.  They came to our school ANZAC day service two years ago and this year and they were at a Airforce Cadet function when I was in cadets.  One particular man, Laurie Woods, i spoke to won the DFC for flying a shot up lanc back to england when he was the Navigator.  He recieved an immeadiate promotion from WOFF to PLTOFF and the DFC!  It really was inspirational listening to them speak.

Cheers

PolyN

Re: "G for George" is Back!!!!!

PostPosted: Sun Dec 14, 2003 1:28 am
by Professor Brensec
[quote]Hey Professor,

The Lanc is sure looking nice! :D and I have actually met and spoken to members of 460 Squadron.

Re: "G for George" is Back!!!!!

PostPosted: Sun Dec 14, 2003 7:21 am
by ozzy72
G is looking mighty fine once again. So we'll be expecting a lot of photos from you shortly Bren? ;D

Ozzy

Re: "G for George" is Back!!!!!

PostPosted: Sun Dec 14, 2003 8:37 am
by Professor Brensec
G is looking mighty fine once again. So we'll be expecting a lot of photos from you shortly Bren? ;D

Ozzy


You might recall my mentioning (about a year or more ago) that I had spoken to a 'very nice Gentleman at the AWM, who at the time said:

"Although normally, visitors are certainly not allowed to 'touch' the aircraft, sometimes a special arrangement can be made (after hours), to gain such access."

I have no idea what provisos or prerequisites are needed,but I suppose they might have some sort of "Make a wish" type arrangement for the disabled or otherwise 'unfortunate'.
This sort of thing is usually for kids, but to sit in George's cockpit, I would become a temporary child and 'sympathy case'. Seriously, I've never, ever even thought of using my illness or disability as a means to gain advantage or favour. In fact, quite the opposite. I prefer to be dealt with as is everyone else, but for that...........I will make the big exception!!) ;D ;)

A big problem though, is the fact that the AWM is not just a 'Display Museum'. It is a 'sanctified' Memorial.
You have never been able to take cameras into the place, let alone use them. It's considered disrespectful, I suppose. (Yes, I know there are photo's on the Website, but they are for promo purposes!! - You can buy photos and postcards of the more popular exhibits at the Kiosk, but they, of course, are for fund raising etc).

So I imagine photos will be impossible!  :'( :'(

Re: "G for George" is Back!!!!!

PostPosted: Sun Dec 14, 2003 9:13 am
by FLYING_TRUCKER
Looking Great....

We are starting our Five Million Dollar expansion to our RCAF MEMORIAL MUSEUM here now.
It has been a long time comming.
Hopefully by the late summer or sooner we will have a home for our completely restored Halifax.
More to follow when things realy start to happen.
Will try to find a site if you are all interested.

AGAIN SHE IS LOOKING GREAT

Cheers........Doug

Re: "G for George" is Back!!!!!

PostPosted: Sun Dec 14, 2003 10:05 am
by Professor Brensec
Looking Great....

We are starting our Five Million Dollar expansion to our RCAF MEMORIAL MUSEUM here now.
It has been a long time comming.
Hopefully by the late summer or sooner we will have a home for our completely restored Halifax.
More to follow when things realy start to happen.
Will try to find a site if you are all interested.

AGAIN SHE IS LOOKING GREAT

Cheers........Doug


I hope they can keep a reasonable timetable on the restorations, mate.

I don't know what time they've advertised as their expected restoration schedule, but I know from waiting for 5 years for George, that these things rarely go accotding to plan, especially if they are doing a 'complete strip and restore'. they really don't know what they are going to find, or need until they get it apart. Sometimes they spend months just looking for (or having made) a part or assembly whioch just has to be the original. ??? :o

The Spitfire MkII that was also taken 5 years ago, has only returned in the last 6 months or so, too.  ;D ;)

But I wish them luck, and hope they come up as well as ours have.
The Lanc really does look fantastic, doesn't it??  ;D :D ;)

Re: "G for George" is Back!!!!!

PostPosted: Sun Dec 14, 2003 2:34 pm
by HawkerTempest5
So nice to see another one of these magnificent aircraft restored and preserved for the future. If only there was a Stirling and a complete Hallifax to go along with it.

Re: "G for George" is Back!!!!!

PostPosted: Sun Dec 14, 2003 5:24 pm
by Polynomial
[quote]

The Lanc really does look fantastic, doesn't it??

Re: "G for George" is Back!!!!!

PostPosted: Sun Dec 14, 2003 9:17 pm
by Professor Brensec
[quote]

Does anyone think the professor is

Re: "G for George" is Back!!!!!

PostPosted: Sun Dec 14, 2003 9:32 pm
by Polynomial
no i havent been to the AWM in Canberra (basically a funding issue and time issue).  But it sounds like a magnificent place and will have to be a place I will definitely visit in the future.