ANSON

May 1981

THE GREAT CHARLEVILLE ANSON RECOVERY

or

WE THE UNQUALIFIED, HAVE BEEN DOING THE IMPROBABLE FOR SO LONG, WITH SO LITTLE, THAT WE NOW ATTEMPT THE IMPOSSIBLE WITH NOTHING.

DAY 1 (1.5.81)
Ken, Mike and Dave departed Brisbane in the borrowed Dyna at 9.40am arriving at "Dundee" station at 2.30p.m. the following day. They travelled 426 miles at an average speed of 29.7 m.p.h.

DAY 2 (2.5.81)
Set up camp and retired, having been on the road for 16 hours 20 minutes.

DAY 3 (3.5.81)
Organized camp and checked out bore water supply. All loose components were collected from the ground under the aeroplane. The bomb bay doors and the port wing root fairing were removed.

DAY 4 (4.5.81)
Dismantling continued with the removal of all metal and. associated woodwork from port engine. The remaining tailplane components were also removed.

DAY 5 (5.5.81)
For safety reasons, the aircraft was supported under the main spar. All plywood formers were removed from the fuselage, photographed and packed. Three noisy visitors (Bill, Greg and Cliff) arrived at 7.00p.m.

DAY 6 (6.5.81)
Greg, Cliff and Bill removed all panels from the starboard engine while Dave, Mike and Ken continued removal and photographing of fuselage formers which were packed for transport.. The aircraft was jacked from the prop hubs and spars. Highlight of the expedition was the discovery of a hot artesian bore some five miles from the camp site. This bore boasted the luxury of a bath tub! For all you artesian bore enthusiasts, the bore was sunk in 1910 when it was capable of delivering one million gallons per day. (Editor's note: The official log from which this is being compiled indicates that day 6 climaxed with a group wash at the bore. This should not necessarily be construed as the inaugural ablutions.) Long distance ablutions are boring.

DAY 7 (7.5.81)
The oil coolers and various underfloor components were removed. After lunch, lowering of the aircraft began by alternately jacking and propping the mainspar and engines with logs cut from local trees (dead trees - conservationists please take note).

DAY 8 (8.5.81)
The lowering of the aircraft was completed. After lunch, the undercarriage operating chains were removed from the front face of the mainspar. The badly decayed spars were cut and the fuselage moved clear. The hired semi-trailer with Noel, Geoff and Michael arrived in company with Al Gerber's tow-truck at 7.00p.m. In fact the tow-truck had travelled most of the distance ON the semi.

DAY 9 (9.5.81)
Using an extension jib on the tow-truck, the fuselage was loaded on the semi together with the engines. After lunch, Al and Michael left. Remaining components were loaded on the semi which left Dundee at 6.00p.m. with Noel, Geoff and Cliff. On arrival at Morven it was discovered that one of the cowlings had fallen off the truck. Fortunately, Geoff was friendly with the local constabulary who assisted in the apprehension of the escaped cowl.

DAY 10 (10.5.81)
Mike, Bill, Greg, Dave and Ken broke camp and lett Dundee at 2.45p.m.. The Dyna broke down 7 miles from Morven necessitating an overnight stay. The semi arrived at the wool store at 12.15p.m. to be unloaded by several other volunteers. The event was recorded by Channel Seven. Surprise visitor was Mr. Max Bushell who owned Dundee station when the Anson was flown in. Mr. Bushell had kindly relinquished any claim to the aircraft which facilitated its donation to QAM by the current owners of Dundee, the Bell Brothers. (For the record, the Anson was flown from Archerfield to Dundee on 20th January 1959. Pilots were Bob Carswell and Keith Virtue. This information is confirmed by Keith Virtue's logbook although, curiously, the registration is shown as "VH-BIZ?". Mr. Bushell was under the impression that the aircraft was VH-BIE although photographs recently supplied by Mr. Bushell indicate that the Anson was VH-BIF. This is where the plot thickens as BIE, BIF and BIZ were all Ansons owned by Bob Carswell and BIE and BIF were thought to have been laid to rest elsewhere. Although the airframe has yet to yield its identity, available photos clearly show the aircraft marked VH-BIF.)

DAY 11 (11.5.81)
The Dyna was repaired and Mike, Dave and Ken left Morven at 1.45p.m. Greg and Bill camped in Miles overnight. Mike, Ken and Dave spent the night with Dave's parents in Taroom. En route they picked up a piece of roadside wreckage which looked. suspiciously like part of an Anson.

DAY 12 (12.5.811)
Mike and Ken left Taroom at 6.00a.m. and met up with Bill and Greg in Miles at 8.30a.m. They left Miles at 10.30a.m. and arrived in Brisbane at 4.30p.m. bringing to a close a very successful operation.

The Charleville Anson, together with the Ansons from Al Gerber's are now safely stored in the wool shed. Our corner has been fenced off with wire, the purchase of which was organized by Brian O'Brien.

While this recovery was a team effort, special mention must be made of the contributions of several non-members who came forward when they were needed most. Particular thanks are due to Noel Finlay for driving the semi and to Al Gerber for making his truck available. Of course we must not forget the Bell Brothers for donating the aeroplane in the first place. Recent news reports that Charleville is flood-bound serve to indicate the level of careful planning which made this expedition an unqualified success. Well done everyone!