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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 1, 2022 9:09:56 GMT 12
Indeed.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 1, 2022 9:12:35 GMT 12
The Kingfisher is sitting at Ardmore with Pioneer.
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Post by nuuumannn on Feb 1, 2022 9:21:35 GMT 12
The Kingfisher is sitting at Ardmore with Pioneer. Who owns it now? Is it going back to Australia or staying here? Questions, questions... |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 1, 2022 9:37:58 GMT 12
There are two Kingfisher projects, both came from Wangaratta, one is owned by Jerry Yagen and the other by Kermit Weeks. They are not being restored, just stored at this stage.
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Post by planecrazy on Feb 1, 2022 9:41:27 GMT 12
On the subject of rare Aussie collections, what ever happened to the guy who had Whale World's collection, the Kingfisher and I believe he had some Vengeance remains too? I vaguely remember reading the Vengeances were undergoing restoration, but what's happened to the Kingfisher, surely a unique type in this neck of the woods? John Bell's collection, had quite a stash of Catalina bits as well, back in the day he used to spot whales using Cessnas, sadly died I think in a search and rescue flight. Pretty sure the Kingfisher belongs to Kermit Weeks, the Vengence may be his as well, not 100% sure. The Catalina was moved to Perth I'm pretty sure, wow there's a whole pile of speculation should have posted in the rumours thread? |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 1, 2022 10:13:17 GMT 12
Graham Orphan was reported to have bought a Vengeance project from Australia.
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Post by ZacYates on Feb 1, 2022 15:00:07 GMT 12
Dave and Peter posted as I was typing!
John Bell was killed in an aircraft accident 13/03/1996. The Vengeance went to Murray Griffiths at Wangaratta and then Rob Greinert, the Kingfisher also went to Wangaratta and then to Jerry Yagen (and is now at Pioneer?). I thought I'd heard talk about Graham Orphan acquiring the/a Vengeance but wasn't 100% sure.
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Post by planecrazy on Feb 1, 2022 21:22:14 GMT 12
I volunteered at Camden from 1965 (only permanent volunteer for about 5 years when I started) and worked there for about 13 years. It was/is completely funded by the Thomas family. No Govt grants...nada. The Moorabbin Beaufighter owes a lot of its "nice" bits to the Camden machine which was then at Boree Creek near Wagga Wagga. Interesting recovery in about 1,000,000 degree C temps. The museum is not open any more due to insurance issues. It is now surrounded by residential development when - after its move from Camden airport - it was just cow paddocks. I know...I did the survey work to set out the new hangar there. It is an incredible life's work by the family and unlike the Smith Collection, was always open on the weekends until bad health saw it finally close its doors. New I had these somewhere this is the Camden Vengence.  From memory the building is quite dark and crowded, this is my excuse for the quality of these images.   From memory the place was open the last Sunday of the month, quite a few RAN types, Sea Fury, Firefly, Gannet and maybe a Venom, nose section of a Lancastrian and the Beaufighter and Mosi as well. |
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Post by Mustang51 on Feb 1, 2022 23:29:32 GMT 12
Vengeance artwork. I remember when it was painted by George Elmsley. Nose section Lincoln not Lancastrian ex Mascot airport
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Post by ZacYates on Feb 2, 2022 14:57:04 GMT 12
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Post by vultee43 on Feb 2, 2022 21:25:56 GMT 12
Graham Orphan was reported to have bought a Vengeance project from Australia. I was speaking with Dave McDonald and Graham Orphan several years ago. They apparently acquired the two Vengeance projects that were at Whale World / Wangaratta. One was going to be put up for sale, the other restored. Don't know their fates, presumably still at Omaka. |
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Post by vultee43 on Feb 2, 2022 21:32:25 GMT 12
I volunteered at Camden from 1965 (only permanent volunteer for about 5 years when I started) and worked there for about 13 years. It was/is completely funded by the Thomas family. No Govt grants...nada. The Moorabbin Beaufighter owes a lot of its "nice" bits to the Camden machine which was then at Boree Creek near Wagga Wagga. Interesting recovery in about 1,000,000 degree C temps. The museum is not open any more due to insurance issues. It is now surrounded by residential development when - after its move from Camden airport - it was just cow paddocks. I know...I did the survey work to set out the new hangar there. It is an incredible life's work by the family and unlike the Smith Collection, was always open on the weekends until bad health saw it finally close its doors. New I had these somewhere this is the Camden Vengence. From memory the building is quite dark and crowded, this is my excuse for the quality of these images. From memory the place was open the last Sunday of the month, quite a few RAN types, Sea Fury, Firefly, Gannet and maybe a Venom, nose section of a Lancastrian and the Beaufighter and Mosi as well. Remember seeing a photo of it on the cover of a RAAF Wings magazine. Grabbed a few copies and still have them buried somewhere. From what I understand this example never saw service. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 2, 2022 22:34:36 GMT 12
The first time I ever saw a photo of any Vengeance was a shot of the Camden one in a 1990's magazine, outside with the engine running. I had no idea what a Vengeance was till I saw that shot.
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Post by Mustang51 on Feb 2, 2022 23:41:26 GMT 12
Its a brutal but beautiful looking machine. Holds a place in the RAAF history of WW.II. Would love to see one flying one day. Same engine as B.25 so that area not a problem. Wing built like a brick outhouse.
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Post by planecrazy on Feb 3, 2022 7:59:23 GMT 12
Its a brutal but beautiful looking machine. Holds a place in the RAAF history of WW.II. Would love to see one flying one day. Same engine as B.25 so that area not a problem. Wing built like a brick outhouse. Wish I'd seen her running, by the looks of the exhaust in the below pic I suspect she had recently been run. |
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Post by ZacYates on Feb 4, 2022 13:58:52 GMT 12
The first time I ever saw a photo of any Vengeance was a shot of the Camden one in a 1990's magazine, outside with the engine running. I had no idea what a Vengeance was till I saw that shot. I remember a very similar - if not the same - image as a kid and thinking "That's a weird-looking Harvard"! |
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Post by vultee43 on Feb 10, 2022 12:09:10 GMT 12
As my Grandfather said - seven tonnes of flying fun.
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Post by planewriting on Feb 10, 2022 14:25:27 GMT 12
I was very fortunate to be invited to visit Camden by one of the people who looks after the collection, back in 2015 when I was on the Wings Over Australia tour. A terrific collection indeed, and sad that they are held in a sort of stasis. But at least they are preserved, and looked after, and all under cover. I too am very fortunate to have visited Camden with my family during the 1991 August school holidays. It wasn't the school holidays though in New South Wales. While at the museum there was a school group (8 year olds?) going through. The time came when one of the teachers/helpers asked the group to move on out to catch the bus. Next thing we knew one of the teacher/helpers was telling our daughter, in no uncertain terms, to hurry up or she will miss the bus. True to form and in her best kiwi accent, our 8 year old daughter made it very clear to the helper that she was not part of the school group... |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 10, 2022 16:05:31 GMT 12
Hahahaha that is gold.
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