Lake Boga and the Flying Boats

[Ben Longden]

For the first time in 61 years, a warbird has landed at Lake Boga - home of the wartime Catalina and flying boat repair base.

 

During the second world war, Lake Boga was the one stop repair shop for the allies Flying Boats in the south pacific theatre and asian conflicts.

 

In 1948 the RAAF closed shop, and it seemed a chapter on Australia's aviation history was closed.

 

But the locals rallied together and not only built a museum from the top secret communications bunker, but also managed to keep one of the rare aircraft for display.

 

After years of weathering, the museum was able to get a half million dollar grant to construct a hangar around the Catalina, so it could be restored.

 

On the day it was officially opened, a number of flying boats were invited to fly in, and Albury's James Williams became the first pilot of a warbird to land at the base in 61 years.

 

Thanks to Dick Peel and James Williams for their help in this short clip.

 

 

 

[turboplanner]

Brilliant!

 

We visited about 15 years ago and it had charisma then with I think the old Cat, or part of it and a plaque

 

 

[eastmeg2]

A lot of water must have gone into Lake Boga since I flew over it in March this year . . .

 

I could see the tufts of grass coming out of the water in the middle of the lake. Looks much nicer in your more recent film clip.

 

[ATTACH]11690.vB[/ATTACH]

 

I didn't see the old Cat though, as I did the previous time I overflew the lake in May 2006. I was later told it had been relocated and had a hangar built over it.

 

Cheers,

 

Glen

 

 

 

[BigPete]

Geez, they kept that a secret, didn't they? Only just up the road and knew nothing about it. I must get out more!

 

Terrific video Ben. A class in its own.

 

regards

 

 

[facthunter]

Lake Boga Activities.

 

I lived at Tresco on the edge of Boga in the 90's and there was a US ex Navy bloke there doing circuits in a large twin engined flying boat, so where does the 61 years come from? Lovely condition plane. He was doing a world trip. Saw it myself, so it definately happened.

 

The Catalina activities are a credit to the locals. There were bits of Catalina's all around the area. Someone was living in one floating on the Murray. (Hull only).

 

I got to see a lot of Catalina's flying in the late 40's at a weekender at Kilaben Bay, right opposite the Rathmines ramp. LOVE EM. Nev

 

 

[Ben Longden]

Facthunter; All historic info from the museum curator, Dick Peel. PM or email me and I can give you his number.

 

There were no records in the museum of your sightings. (as the lawyers say, if its not written down, it never happened..)

 

I just report the story from statements given by others, as you would have seen in the video with Dick's Interview.

 

Eastmeg2; The community managed to buy enough water to refill the lake earlier this year.. and when Dick showed me around, he confirmed what I thought; they just built the hangar around the plane.

 

The plan is to restore the aircraft to showroom display condition... airworthy would be nice but $$$$ or the lack of it is the issue.

 

While the lake was dry, the council placed signs around the lake asking people NOT to walk across the dry lake bed, due to the possibility of unexploded ordnance lying in the mud that had fallen off various AC.

 

If you go to the museum, you will see pyramid shaped concrete blocks around the place. These are the two tonne mooring anchors used during the war.

 

HARS is about to send back the blisters on the rear fuselage, as they had borrowed them to make templates for a set of blisters for the current HARS' Black Cat.

 

Unfortunately the museum does not have a website (anyone here care to donate time, effort and server space?) Its all run by volunteers, and any admission fee barely pays the bills.

 

Nev, your story about the hull on the Murray was also mentioned during the flyin... quite a few people had actually seen the Catalina hull converted to a houseboat. (No one mentioned the Dornier flying boat hull, now lying in state behind a business in Moama)

 

Ben

 

 

[turboplanner]

Flying boat with outboard on Murray near Echuca.

 

I was just scanning 35 mm slides and came across this.

 

Don't recognise it, but windows may have been cut in

 

 

 

[Ben Longden]

Brilliant! that looks awfully like the Dornier Hull that was converted into a boat.

 

The last I saw of it, it was lying 'in state', well, dumped really in Moama

 

 

[Scoti]

Brilliant! that looks awfully like the Dornier Hull that was converted into a boat.The last I saw of it, it was lying 'in state', well, dumped really in Moama

I think this Dornia was owned by a mates father and was seen by me at the RSL (?) club in Echucasome years back ,Im checking that out ,

 

This mate also has a Catalina hull that was used as a house boat just like the Dornia ,it was for sale ....It may have been sold ,checking this out too..

 

I have pictures and will try to find them

 

 

[Scoti]

Brilliant! that looks awfully like the Dornier Hull that was converted into a boat.The last I saw of it, it was lying 'in state', well, dumped really in Moama

I think this Dornia was owned by a mates father and was seen by me at the RSL (?) club in Echucasome years back ,Im checking that out ,

 

This mate also has a Catalina hull that was used as a house boat just like the Dornia ,it was for sale ....It may have been sold ,checking this out too..

 

I have pictures and will try to find them

 

 

[Scoti]

Brilliant! that looks awfully like the Dornier Hull that was converted into a boat.The last I saw of it, it was lying 'in state', well, dumped really in Moama

I think this Dornia was owned by a mates father and was seen by me at the RSL (?) club in Echuca some years back ,Im checking that out..

 

This mate also has a Catalina hull that was used as a house boat just like the Dornia ,it was for sale ....It may have been sold ,checking this out too..

 

I have pictures and will try to find them

 

 

[turboplanner]

The dreaded triple disease.

 

I was fishing in a creek off the Murray one balmy night and heard the rumble of what sounded like a 4 cylinder car engine and an old Catalina hull slid by stately as the Queen Mary

 

 

[maddogmorgan]

I was down there about 8 weeks ago on my Around Oz Plane Porn Trip. Too many pics to put on the site so I am putting them all on facebook with a link if anyone wants to take a look...I came across Lake Boga by accident, not the biggest museum but definetely worth a look if you are in the area

 

 

 

 

 

[Terry Anderson]

The dreaded triple disease.I was fishing in a creek off the Murray one balmy night and heard the rumble of what sounded like a 4 cylinder car engine and an old Catalina hull slid by stately as the Queen Mary

I lived in Koondrook, Victoria in the early 1960s. A Catalina Hull propelled by a Ford 10 4 cyl engine was used to ferry sleepers out of the red gum forests in the floods. It sank and was refloated in 1962. In about 2000 in Mildura, I saw a houseboat, Rivercat 2, which had been built on the hull of a Catalina. I often wondered if it was the same hull. Anybody know anything?

 

 

[cgsimpson]

Lake Boga 75 years celebrations are on 17-18 March 2017…..Seaplanes pilots association are flying in …..will be a great weekend for aircraft enthusiasts

 

Also antique aircraft flying at Echuca….same weekend

 

 

[rgmwa]

We stumbled across Lake Boga on a family camping trip through Victoria years ago when the kids were still young. Very interesting place. There's also a Catalina on display at the Bullcreek Museum in Perth if anyone's over this way. They used to operate a lot of them off the Swan River during the war, including the famous non-stop `double-sunrise' flights to Ceylon.

 

Catalina flying boat - Picture of Aviation Heritage Museum, Bull Creek - TripAdvisor

 

rgmwa

 

 

[dsam]

I just thought it would be good to draw attention to the following event:

 

Flying Boat Repair Depot 75th Anniversary 17th - 19th March 2017

 

I will be flying in to see this event over that weekend. It should be fun. I know that the museum is very good, and I like the historic communications bunker as well.

 

 

[billwoodmason]

Three of our aircraft belonging to members of " Cobden Aero Club" are attending the reunion - one of our passengers will be a 97 years young member of our club who was stationed there during the war and is very much looking forward to a return visit. We will be based at Swan Hill airport, I would love to say g'day to any forumites while there.

 

 

[pmccarthy]

If I fly up for the day on Saturday, is Swan Hill the nearest strip? Is there any way of getting to Lake Boga from there?

 

 

[dsam]

If I fly up for the day on Saturday, is Swan Hill the nearest strip? Is there any way of getting to Lake Boga from there?

My plan is to tie down at YSWH on Friday. I rang up and spoke to a very helpful chap from the local flying club, and arranged a tie-down spot for me (one of many, I would think). For a small fee, I even think there is a bit of temporary hangar space for itinerant aviators, if you ask them.

The fellow at the Murray River Motel (where I'm staying) will fetch me from the aerodrome. I'm sure he can also help me sort out the short trip to the Lake Boga museum area on Saturday. I'm not sure whether the organisers have planned for a town shuttle....? Any Swan Hill aviators able to advise?

 

 

[billwoodmason]

If I fly up for the day on Saturday, is Swan Hill the nearest strip? Is there any way of getting to Lake Boga from there?

PM I believe there is a shuttle bus operating to and from the airfield. Full details are on them Lake Boga museum web site. Let google be your friend.

 

 

[kaz3g]

AWPA will be there and they have arranged a bus from SWH.

 

Unfortunately, I will miss both Lake Boga and the AAAA flyin at Echuca. I am attending a friend's wedding which is a Hindu ceremony over 3 days!

 

Kaz

 

 

[Stewy]

Yes there is a shuttle bus running I believe don't know the times though but I believe that it will be running all day

 

I'll be hanging around the airport on an off so call and say g'day have just finished building new hangar on west side of taxi way so if doors open call in anyone welcome

 

Regards

 

Stewy

 

 

[dsam]

Here is another link to the Lake Boga (Swan Hill) event, particularly well suited to the semi-aquatic members of this forum:

 

Seaplane Pilots Association Australia - SPAA Splash-in for the Lake Boga 75th Anniversary

 

Safe flying, everyone:plane:

 

Dave

 

 

[440032]

Just heard from my mate "on the water" there in his bird at 4:15pm Fri.

 

Couple of SeaReys, a Renegade, a nice new Rans S7 with the coolest rego/callsign possible, a Super Petrel or two, no Bird Dog coming (though the owner is there), and quite a few others weathered in around Sydney unable to get out. Catalina still planned to get there eventually, but will not land on the water.

 

Transmission ends........................