Someone involved in the recovery operation of the P-43 and P-51 at Wagga Wagga has contacted me via email as i am well known it seems, after i made a comment on the WIX forum it seems.

To show their operation is indeed real , all going well, they are going to release to me and have allowed to show others, a warbird recovery they undertook in the past of a Australian Spitfire in a swamp in 2001. Around 50% of a Spitfire was recovered from a swamp in 2001, the remains were less than 250m from a busy road.

Has anyone else heard of this or seen photos will be interesting once i get the photos…Maybe one or two people may have been aware but the owners decided they wanted to keep it quiet,……why? who knows.

But it has been pointed out to me that the owners are quite annoyed by suggestions from other people on forums as already discussed, that their own private affairs should be forced out into the “open” just to feed some “ego’s ” let alone they have to be told “to put up or shut up”…. which is extremely rude.

Seems maybe my approach of being open to any possibilities has opened a door to potential more information maybe..

who knows……

I would suggest other people who were rude or dismissive try this – maybe remain open to what these people may have found……you really dont know what could be “out there”…. remember barns and farms hold all kind of things…

Thanks to Richard Purdy from CFML , we can now see more of the 2012 Catalina Festival photos on the CFML webpage. Shown here are some of my photos i took on Nov 3 2012 – http://catalinaflying.org.au/index5.html

Richard has also given us access to some of the ferry flight from Portugal to Australia 2008 flight photos -shown here http://catalinaflying.org.au/index3.html

Phil Buckley

Brief update on the results of the Catalina festival today at Rathmines.

Obviously with introduction of the HARS Catalina to this years line up, along with extensive media coverage, interesting exhibits, all saw a massive crowd turn over which had 45mins -1hr traffic crawl outside the former base in the morning.

The morning arrival of the HARS Black Cat Catalina, saw it fly over and then alight on Lake Macquarie. It then tacied in with the sounds of the engines reverberating off the water and making everyone know she was her. The arrival saw the crowd surge forward to the former RAAF base ramp hardstand area and they watched for the first time in 31years as a Catalina rose up from the lake and came ashore.

Over next few hours, WW2 RAAF Catalina veterans and the general public were allowed into the Catalina for a close up look. Meanwhile overheard buzzed formations of civil seaplanes, Tigermoths and a Wirraway.

Many small stalls were present and were some local community groups which had displays which included amazing WW2 photos of Rathmines from air and ground showing how large the base was. In the main community hall building was a superb Catalina display, with a 3-4m x 7m long model of Rathmines as in WW2….well built. Hanging from roof were 3 large Catalina models.
Many more photos, uniforms, displays of war time items such as unit pennants, flight boots and paperwork was on show.

By 330pm it was time for the Cat to say goodbye and again the crowds surged forward to watch the start up and into the Lake. A camera was seen to be mounted to the wing support for inflight filming. The take off saw spray and mist cover the aircraft and once airborne , another fly over and the event closed for the day.

This Festival was possible due to the hard work of the Catalina Festival team, CFML members, local community groups, HARS for kindly bringing the Catalina to the festival for the first time on the ground (in past it has flown over) and many of the hard working volunteers who help prepare and guide people.

The CFML Catalina project has given an update it seems the VH-CAT, it seems the repairs and overhaul are on track (along with getting more donations/sponsors/funding) so it could mean it may refly hopefully sometime early next year, which should mean for the 2013 Catalina Festival at Rathmines, there could be a high chance of seeing 2 Catalinas on the lake and on ramp if all goes well.

Here is a short video i shot showing the HARS Catalina running up its engines prior to departure from Rathmines around 330pm today https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3899280480106 . More photos from me will come soon.

In space of a few hours i met today the nearly everyone from the Catalina Festival organisers, CFML project team along with most of the HARS team/management board again. It was truly great to see all these people able to achieve a great outcome for ensuring the modern generations to come will be able to understand the role the men and women in WW2 played in the RAAF at Rathmines.
Many people it seems wants to see this event happen every year with aircraft like the Catalina coming, gauging by the crowd interest today.

Lets hope HARS can assist the CFML and CF again in 2013 to bring back the sounds of Catalinas to Rathmines.
Phil

A few months ago but but the beauty of Rathmines can be seen in this image of the seaplane ramp at dusk i took
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3896052039397&set=o.38244348751&type=1&relevant_count=1&ref=nf

The Catalina Festival program is now available to download and indicates the time of the HARS “Black Cat” Catalina arrival and leaving Rathmines.

http://www.catalinafestival.com.au/?page_id=169

Looking at some of the comments made by people recently on that Warbirdz thread, i think they are a bit rude to whoever has potentially found these airframes….and other warbird owners and collectors. ( i am also glad i left that forum as it only reinforces how rude some “warbird” enthusiasts are there towards others)

As we all know we are awaiting proof. on the Lancer and Mustang find…

That may take time to be revealed.

Nothing has to be done in a rush.

Its up to the owners discretion when they want to reveal…???….. not some individual online poster demanding on a forum for them to “shut up or put up” is it now…

What disturbs me is some of the posters attitude is really not needed and will only cause others warbird owners/collectors to refuse to share information in the future.

Some posters on page 5 and page 6 of the Warbirdz.net thread seems to be desperate for news…… I think they should stand back and await further evidence before jumping in so soon….and making such uncalled for comments.

Common sense is obviously lacking in some specific individuals….. and they obviously dont see what they are writing can damage future warbird recoveries in Australia with their attitudes.

Most people have seen quite a few wrecks recovered around the world lately.. so they need to remember they shouldnt just write off someone because no pictures or evidence was given…

Small update – this week the latest edition of the Australian Pilot magazine goes on sale with a timely article giving some publicity to the upcoming Catalina Festival at Rathmines -where the HARS Catalina is expected to appear – which is now only 2 weeks away.

See the Catalina facebook page link for the story as it will be seen in the magazine –https://www.facebook.com/groups/38244348751/

Phil Buckley

Small update with some good news for the Catalina project., showing how anyone with some work, can make a small contribution to getting the aircraft back into the air.

As part of my assistance towards helping the Catalina return to flight, beside some media work to help raise profile more across the world, i have gained the project support from Dulux Paints in the last month, which will see once discussions are complete at some point in the future, some supplies of paint all going well donated to help repaint the Catalina into a suitable colour scheme.

I have had a working relationship with Dulux Paints for nearly 3 years from my various heritage railway work, having obtained 2 NSW railway projects nearly 230 litres of free pain,t in return for Dulux Paints getting positive promotion.

Hopefully this free paint will be achieved also with the Catalina shortly and eventually a new paint scheme will be painted on, to suit its intended role as a warbird, which is to ensure the legacy of the RAAF Catalina crews are remembered at Rathmines and around Australia.

And a small reminder, it is now 1 month until the HARS Catalina “Black Cat” is planned to alight on Lake Macqauire and visit Rathmines to be put on display as the core display part of the Catalina Festival.

Phil Buckley