RAAF Museum Bostons

[Dave Homewood]

Hs anyone got some recent or up to date news on the project in Australia (RAAF Museum) to restore several A-20 Bostons? Have any flown yet?

[corsair67]

This is from the RAAF Museum website.

www.raafmuseum.com.au/

Boston A28-8

The Boston was used by the RAAF from 1942 to 1945 as a ground attack aircraft and then later for mail delivery and communication duties. In 1976 a ground party consisting of RAAF and National Museum of Papua New Guinea personnel discovered the wrecks of several Boston bomber aircraft in the jungles of Papua New Guinea.

Between 1984 and 1994 five wrecks were lifted out of the jungles of Papua New Guinea (four American ‘G’ model aircraft) and Goodenough Island (one Australian ‘C’ model aircraft). The recovery of the aircraft was carried out by RAAF personnel from No 12 Squadron and No 3 Aircraft Depot and the Air Movements Training Development Unit. Chinook heavy lift helicopters of No 12 Squadron and a privately-operated Russian heavy lift helicopter were used to lift the fuselages and components from the Jungle to Madang where they were prepared for transportation to Australia by ship or aircraft. No 37 Squadron and the Royal Australian Navy assisted in the transportation of the larger sections of the aircraft to Australia.

Restoration of the aircraft began in earnest in 1992 at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. The project was known as the Boston Restoration Project, funded by the RAAF Museum and carried out by Permanent Air Force and Reserve Staff Group personnel. The restoration of two complete Bostons took five years, with completion in 1997. The 'Hell 'N Pelican II', a US Army Air Corps Boston, is to be returned to Papua New Guinea for display in its new War Museum. 'Jessica' was road transported to the RAAF Museum in March 1998.

The restoration of such a large aircraft posed many challenges for the RAAF Museum's restoration team, and due to the complexity of structures and systems, the work utilised sections of the other aircraft recovered, whilst retaining the major original components of A28-8.

On completion of the Boston Restoration Project, 'Jessica' became the only survivor of the 69 Bostons flown by the RAAF.