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This
bomber is a survivor
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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
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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.
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