B-24 Restoration at Werribee, Australia

Werribee B24

I am not a member of the group but live in the area and keep in touch with various members so I hope they dont mind this unofficial report –

The B24 project at Werribee is located in one of 4 wooden framed “asbestos sheeting” roofed wartime hangars located on the former Werribee satellite airfield near Point Cook and Laverton.

In January this year (perhaps related to heavy rains) the roof of a second hangar used by the group for storage of completed and unrestored parts collapsed, creating damage to some items and exposing others to the elements and later theft.

As I understand it “Asbestos” sheeting becomes porous as it ages, it has health issues surrounding it (ie the current James Hardie company contraversy here in Australia) but in this case its other poor property of loosing its “water proofing” as it becomes porous is likely to have permitted water damage to the bolts and timber frames of the roof, and also to cause the timber roof to be “over stressed” whenever the porous “asbestos” becomes water logged and significantly heavier after rain.

The Government water board who owns the site responded to the initial evidence of structural failure by closing access to all hangars including the B24 restoration hangar pending an engineering structural assessment of the collapse and the situation of the remaining hangars in case of similar risks.

The B24 group suffered the theft of two fully restored wingtips, and some other items as the collapsed hangar was emptied, and placed all of the material into temporary storage/containers etc. These items are still to be recovered!

I understand the group negotiated access to other temporary workshops in the surrounding suburbs to allow off-site restoration to continue but that workshop suffered theft of tools etc to further delay the project.

I believe the structural review of the remaining hangars in completed and various short term and long term strategies were to be developed to secure their safety and long term preservation (the site and buildings are under a heritage protection).

I understand the B24 group is now returning to some level of access to the main hangar (where the B24 itself has remained in situ all the time).

However they have suffered the set backs of lost time of access to the aircraft and project, the theft of tools and more importantly restored and rare items such as wing tips and even perhaps the added set back of the conversion/future suitability of these buildings for long term use as a permanent museum unless these structural isssues are resolved and corrected?

I am sure the group will resolve those issues and continue on with the B24’s completion, and is deserving of all of our ongoing support.

I am sure the B24 Group would appreciate any assistance anyone can provide in relation to parts, tools and in particular leads of stolen wing tips or New-Old Stock ones if available!!

regards

Mark P