Sunday 9 September was chosen for the Club run to Werribee
to view the B24 Liberator under restoration.  The weather 
forecast wasn’t too promising and it was raining as my mate, 
John Christie and I headed off in my ’27 Chev west bound.

Fortunately that was the only rain that we experienced all day.
Most of those attending met at the Todd Road Service Centre 
just short of the Westgate Bridge whilst those who chose to, 
went straight to the Restoration Hangar.  Don Jones and his 
boys were out in their “Yellow Peril”, Don’s Austin A30.  
I think this was the first time the Austin had joined us 
on one of our Club runs.

The B24 Liberator Memorial Restoration Project is staffed 
fully by volunteers and their dedication is to be admired. 
We were welcomed and given an introduction on our arrival 
then shown slides, split into two groups and shown around 
the hangar.  Liberator Bombers were built by the thousand
by the American war effort, but under Lend-Lease 
arrangements, were to be scrapped at the end of the war.  
This one was posted to East Sale RAAF base at the end of 
the war and was disposed of into private ownership around 
1950.  With the wings removed it was transported to Moe 
where it remained till around 1996 when the project acquired 
the hulk.  It’s the only remaining Liberator in the southern 
Hemisphere.  Parts have been salvaged from crash sites both 
in Australia and New Guinea and these have been big projects 
in themselves.  At a service last year the project was 
dedicated as a Memorial to all Australian Service people 
who served in Liberator Units.

It is hoped that the restoration will be completed by the 
2003 Avalon Airshow when the finished article can be 
unveiled and from then on housed as Lindsay Fox has promised 
Hangar space at Avalon.

Of particular interest on the run was that Keith Shugg 
served as a very young RAAF serviceman at this very site 
57 years ago.  Judging by the smile on Keith there must 
be some good memories from that period of his life.  
Another point of interest is that the hangars at Werribee 
are original WWII hangars and as so few still exist there 
is both a National and International Trust classification 
issued against two of them. (I was fascinated by the timber 
in the roof structure, all made in kit form in the UK and 
transported to Australia for erection … Ed!)

At the completion of our tour we relocated just up the 
road to the Racecourse Hotel.  
Here we partook in a very enjoyable lunch and as the 
afternoon grew on, members made their own ways home.  

Thanks to Irwin for organising both the run and the lunch 
venue.

CLUB CARS ATTENDING:
Peter & Anna Booth	1929 Austin A7 Tourer 
Les & Pauline Standing 	1932 Austin A7 
TourerAlbert Briffa & Peg Place 
     & John & Jennifer Griffiths 1929 Chev Tourer
Kevin & Carol Clarence 	1934 Lagonda Rapier
Ern & Pam Hopgood	1928 Chev Tourer
Peter & Mazz Lafrank	1927 Buick Tourer
Les Lucas & John Christie  1927 Chev Tourer
Peter & Noel Matthews	1928 Chev Tourer 
Sue & David Pater	1925 Nash Ute

CARS OF SPECIAL INTEREST:
Don, Sam,& Jack Jones - Austin -A30

MEMBERS IN MODERN CARS: 
Ray & Ruth Paterson
Ron Barnett
Ron & Margaret Elmore
Rodger Bowen & Keith
Keith & Sheila Shugg
Les & Aileen Thomas
Phil Bowden
Fred & Valda Lubbe
Irwin Sinclair
Kel & Lynne Burgess
Rin & Marion Ooykaas