A Classic bike run to an inspection of a World War2 bomber for me was an irresistible force.

I think that the 17 other members who attended this run on 13 bikes and in 4 cars felt much the same.

We had excellent weather and a good mix of classic bikes. Bill had booked this venue and it didn’t take us long to travel the 12 klms from the start to the 1940’s hanger on the corner of Farm Road and the old Geelong Road. The hanger and the paddock its situated in is now all that is left of what used to be a busy war time RAAF training station and just 2 klms from the Werribee town centre.

You can still see the outline of what remains of the main runway.

It’s been around 8 or 9 years since my last visit to the restoration of this 1944 B24 Liberator and progress has been quite slow. That is understandable as most parts had to be sourced from around many parts of the world. Plus of course all work is done by volunteers and with no government funding whatsoever.

Never-the-less the old girl is now starting to look quite magnificent in its polished aluminium coating. The wings, tailplane and the front gun turret is attached to the fuselage and the whole assembly is now standing on her own ‘two feet’ as it were.

Can you believe the fuselage was bought off a Moe residence that had it in his back garden!

We were informed that all Liberators based in Australia where stripped of paintwork due to the heat and fuselage and panels where then highly polished. That is how this RAAF number A72-176 Liberator will appear when completed.

None of the four Pratt and Whitney engines are fitted as yet but the first is near completion. The public will be invited to the engine run and I hope to attend.

Admission was only $5:00 and because we were a group we enjoyed a cuppa and some biscuits for just $3:00 dollars more.

Like quite a few other war bird restorations around the world, once completed it will never perform a “Rising of the Phoenix”. That is, it will never fly. However when completed what a magnificent sight it will be with its gun turrets bristling out from its polished silver fuselage.

As planned we then rode over to Bill’s place in Laverton North for a most enjoyable BBQ and a bit of a squisse at the preliminary races of the Motorcycle GP.

Most of us got home in plenty of time to see Casey Stoner easily win the main event and take out his second World Title. Not a bad way to end what was a great day.

Thanks bill for organising the venue and for your hospitality.

Reg Hammond

Participants List:

Burger Drake Vincent 1000 1950

Ted Lhuede BSA A10 Road Rocket 1956

Reg Hammond BSA Gold Flash 1957

Jol Dunn NSU Supermax 1960

Tom Myers BMW R75/5 1970

Peter Cullen BMW R60/5 1971

Stan Rogers Triumph Tiger 650 1972

Bill Weedon Honda Police Bike 650 1978

Ray Isles BMW R80 1995

Richard Sommerville Honda CX500 1981

Jack Ryan (Guest Rider) Honda VFR 800 2000

Ed Sleightholm Triumph Bonny T100 2005

Doug McDonald Royal Enfield Bullet 2011

Bob McLennon car

Dave Mclennon car

Richard Haughton car

Adrian Nash car

Bill Devine (Guest) car

Len Hollingsworth car