Warbird Information Exchange

This bomber is a survivor By Ben Caddaye

JUST over a year ago, the first of two Canberra Bombers that had been languishing at the end of the runway at RAAF Base Amberley for years was rescued by a restoration team. With one of the aircraft earmarked for donation to the Papua New Guinea Government and the other destined for the National Aerospace Museum, it was vital both remained in a suitable condition to reduce restoration costs down the track.

In January 2002, Canberra aircraft A84-203, which had sunk into the soil and become badly corroded by the elements, was moved into Amberley's restoration hangar where work on it began immediately.

Warrant Officer Dennis Doggett and his team, which included three ex-Air Force volunteers and two work-for -the-dole participants provided by Bridgeworks Personnel, applied a preservation treatment to ensure its condition did not deteriorate further. WOFF Doggett and the three former Air Force members had previously restored a World War II Boston Bomber and also did about 90 per cent of the restoration work on the Catalina Flying Boat which has pride of place at the RAAF Museum at Point Cook.

One of the volunteers, John Payne, is the son of an Airframe Fitter who worked on A84-203 during the early part of its life in the Air Force. Thanks to the generosity of aviation enthusiasts around the country, who helped by providing missing and damaged parts at no cost, the preservation process went smoothly.

In December last year, and with the team's role in phase one of the process complete, the aircraft was moved from the restoration hangar to make room for the second Canberra Bomber. The team's work on the first aircraft resulted in the two work-for-the-dole participants, Ian Taberhan and Jason Moffatt, being nominated for Work for the Dole Achievement Awards, which will be announced this year.

In the meantime, it's back to the workshop for all the team members with the second Canberra Bomber also in need of their care

The restoration team with the Canberra Bomber at RAAF Base Amberley: (front, from left) John Payne, Ian Taberham, Jason Gary-Moffatt, (back) Don Neibling, Alan Byrnes, Keith Fletcher and Warrant Officer Dennis Doggett. Photo by AC Greg Pierce