PERSONNEL from the Royal Australian Air Force’s No. 11 Squadron in South Australia have made a flying visit to Lake Macquarie in a show of support for the Catalina restoration project.
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Warrant Officer Ralph Clifton said the No. 11 Squadron had long ties with Catalinas.
“11 Squadron is a maritime patrol squadron which had been based at Rathmines and flew Catalinas, among other aircraft,” Warrant Officer Clifton said.
He revealed No. 11 squadron personnel had spent two years restoring components for the Catalina being rebuilt by Rathmines Catalina Memorial Park Association volunteers on a property at Kilaben Bay.
“Fundamentally, this has been a labour of love for us. As a squadron we’re passionate about our history,” he said.
Squadron personnel from Edinburgh had recently completed the restoration of an engine, rudder, and tail plane assembly that would be transported to Lake Macquarie next week, he said.
“We’ve been asked for our support and technical expertise in restoring these components, as best we could, to their original condition, using World War II theories and processes,” he said.
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The RAAF delegation flew to Williamtown on Wednesday morning and drove to Kilaben Bay before flying home on Wednesday afternoon.
“That just shows the level of importance we place on this project,” he said of the flying visit.
RCMPA president Bill Anderson said the No. 11 Squadron’s visit and support meant “a huge amount” to the project.
“There’s a very strong bond there that’s been maintained,” he said.
The RCMPA plan is for the restored Catalina to be a static display in a hangar purpose-built as a museum on land owned by Lake Macquarie City Council.
The proposal is being considered by the council as part of its Rathmines Park master plan. Mr Anderson said his recent meeting with senior council staff about the project was again positive.
“I think the council can see that our concept has great merit, but council also has to be sure that if we put a building there in the park, we have a succession plan,” Mr Anderson said.
RMCPA would be required to present a feasibility study that demonstrated what a Catalina would add to the appeal of Rathmines Park, he said.
The Catalina components restored by No. 11 Squadron will be flown to Richmond and trucked to Kilaben Bay next week.
Mr Anderson said RCMPA had outgrown the restoration site at Kilaben Bay.
“In the most simple terms, we can’t put the Catalina’s wings back on because there’s no room here,” he said.
He was, therefore, delighted to report that Centennial Coal had offered a secure site for the Catalina’s storage.
It was yet another show of local support for the restoration project, he said.
On Wednesday, Warrant Officer Clifton paid tribute to the volunteers who were painstakingly restoring the aircraft.
“The fact these gentlemen keep turning up to work on a relatively old aircraft, in their own time, shows the level of commitment that they have,” he said.