Darwin Air Heritage Centre
Wed Sep 26, 2012 8:19 am
Recently while on a magazine photo shoot, i also visited this unique museum and got to see the main item on display......my first "local" B-52 up close in a preserved status. The B-52G (the only one outside the US on display) has had all engines removed and modifications to bomb bay but otherwise is intact from what i saw.It is hard to imagine the fear these aircraft out into the enemy in various wars.. but walking around one and seeing what they can carry makes it understandable why after nearly 55years they remain a front line offensive tool for the US defence plans.
Also noted in the museum was many WW2 relics from Japanese aircraft shot down over Darwin during WW2 during raids, alongside many relics of American and RAAF aircraft. Large maps and display are able to show visitors how much damage the Japanese did in WW2 to Australian soil. During later half of WW2 Darwin became a major RAAF bomber base with B-24 Liberator based there (where the current airport terminal is on the north side). Many people have no idea Australia was bombed in WW2 at Darwin and it was quite sad to be walking on a former battlefield...... knowing people had died around there trying to defend the country from the Japanese.
The museum has on display a replica Spitfire, front section of a B-25 Mitchell (on all 3 wheels and nose just missing rear from bomb bay back)..., a Mirage IIO and Sabre jet. A Wessex helicopter, various engines displays and a movie area compliment a large bookshop. A few civil aircraft are seen outside as are radar displays.
Photos will go soon up on my travel blog and in Australian Pilot in a future article.
Phil
Also noted in the museum was many WW2 relics from Japanese aircraft shot down over Darwin during WW2 during raids, alongside many relics of American and RAAF aircraft. Large maps and display are able to show visitors how much damage the Japanese did in WW2 to Australian soil. During later half of WW2 Darwin became a major RAAF bomber base with B-24 Liberator based there (where the current airport terminal is on the north side). Many people have no idea Australia was bombed in WW2 at Darwin and it was quite sad to be walking on a former battlefield...... knowing people had died around there trying to defend the country from the Japanese.
The museum has on display a replica Spitfire, front section of a B-25 Mitchell (on all 3 wheels and nose just missing rear from bomb bay back)..., a Mirage IIO and Sabre jet. A Wessex helicopter, various engines displays and a movie area compliment a large bookshop. A few civil aircraft are seen outside as are radar displays.
Photos will go soon up on my travel blog and in Australian Pilot in a future article.
Phil
Re: Darwin Air Heritage Centre
Wed Sep 26, 2012 8:32 am
Where are the pics? You where there on a photo shoot and no pics. 