Benalla veteran, author, and military historian Doug Williams had an opportunity to see a fully restored Tiger Moth, a plane he would have had lots to do with during his years of service.
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
Benalla veteran, and author, Doug Williams had an opportunity to spend some time with an old friend at Benalla Airport recently.
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On Monday, January 13, the owners of a De Havilland 8811 DH-82 Tiger Moth, which was used to train pilots in Benalla during WWII, brought the aircraft ‘home’, for a visit.
Co-owner of the aircraft, Chris Gregory, said it was important to make sure Doug could get along to take a look.
“We bought the plane 12 months ago,” Mr Gregory said.
Along with co-owner Chris Kinnane, he’s had the aircraft fully restored.
“There’s a company called Luskintyre that is world renowned for doing aircraft restorations,” he said.
“They did a wonderful job.
Mr Gregory said the Tiger Moth is much more than a museum piece, and they take it out for a fly at least once a week.
And that thanks to some modern additions, installed as part of the restoration, he suspects it flies even better in 2025, than it did the day it rolled out of the factory in the 1930s.
“The original Tiger Moths didn’t have brakes,” he said.
“So we have brakes, and a radio, which is something the original models never had.”
Mr Gregory said bringing the Tiger Moth home for a visit was only part of their motivation for the Benalla trip.
The instrument panel in the tiger moth has been restored to its original standard.
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
“Doug Williams is highly experienced with this Tiger Moth,” Mr Gregory said.
“And we really wanted him to see it.”
Designed in the UK, and built in Sydney, this Tiger Moth played a vital role in Australia’s war effort.
“It spent the start of its life training WWII pilots here (in Benalla) until it was damaged,” Mr Gregory said.
“Which often happened in pilot training.
“So it was sent to Melbourne for repairs, but never returned.
“But it’s been everywhere since. It’s been doing joy flights, it’s been with a dozen companies.
“It’s been used in aerial agriculture, and for lots of other things.”
Mr Williams said the plane looked amazing, and it was a lovely day out to come and take a look.
While the plane was visiting Benalla for the day, its current home is just down the road at Shepparton Airport.
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