Wartime bomber restored before making its way to new home

The bomber on the road from Amberley Base to Townsville Port. Image: Alf Wilson

A Douglas A-20 Havoc Bomber was recently transported by road from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Amberley to the Port of Townsville.

It left on May 31 and arrived at Townsville Port on June 4 to be shipped overseas.

The aircraft, nicknamed Hell’n Pelican II, saw service with the United States Army 5th Air Force during the Second World War.

The Bomber at Amberley Base being prepared for transport. Image: Alf Wils

It took the following routes via Westwood (west of Rockhampton) and Charters Towers, using Warrego, Leichhardt, Capricorn, Gregory, and Flinders Highways.

The plane was transported along the Port Access Road the night before arriving at the harbour.

From there it was loaded onto a naval auxiliary vessel and transported to Port Moresby where it will be delivered to the Papua New Guinea National Museum and Art Gallery.

The bomber had a large contingent of escorts. Image: Alf Wilson

The aircraft will serve as an important reminder of a time when Australia and Papua New Guinea’s shared adversity and sacrifice forged the early bonds of our Defence relationship.

The Bomber at Townsville Port being loaded on a ship bound for PNG. Image: ADF

During a mission in 1944, the aircraft hit bad weather and made a forced landing near Amaiamon village in Madang Province, Papua New Guinea.

The pilot Second Lieutenant Charles Anderson and crew-member Sergeant John McKenna managed to escape. The aircraft was hidden by vegetation for three decades until it was located by an Australian Defence Force team, before being transported to Australia to be restored by a Royal Australian Air Force specialist team.