A search around the world was required to restore an old legend to its former glory.
A B-24 Liberator heavy bomber, which was flown during the Second World War, has been restored and now sits in a Melbourne Water hangar at Werribee.
For the past seven years, a dedicated group of volunteers put in almost 250,000 hours to restore the plane. Recently, it was dedicated as a memorial to the 20,000 Australians who flew and serviced the aircraft during the war.
A fully fitted out B-24 comprises more than one million parts. When the three original members of the restoration team met in the empty hangar for the very first time, they had in their possession just one piece of equipment – a wheel cap. Around that wheel cap the group managed to build an entire aircraft.
The fuselage was discovered in the forest near Moe, Victoria; the wing was retrieved from the highlands; and other parts have come from around the world.
After a worldwide search for missing parts and the acquisition of those parts, team members managed to complete 95% of the project. Restoration has relied on the generosity of companies, individuals and the 750 members of the B-24 Liberator Memorial Restoration Fund; it has not been government funded.
Location
The hangar is at the corner of Princes Highway and Farm Road, Werribee
(Melway Ref 205 F10).
Hours of operation
The B-24 hangar is open to the public from 10 am until 3 pm every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
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