Take flight: the aviation history of Tocumwal
RAAF Station Tocumwal was the largest Australian air base during WW2, home to the mighty B24 Liberator Bomber. With over 100 years of aviation history in Tocumwal there are many fascinating tales. This session is being presented by the Tocumwal Aviation Museum, founded by Matt and Karen Henderson.
Since 1920 when the first joy flights were held, through the war years and into current days of flight training, gliding and crop dusting there have been many aviation milestones at Tocumwal. As Australia’s largest air base during WW2, locals can still recall hearing the huge B24 Liberator Bombers training night and day.
After WW2 there were hundreds of military aircraft at Tocumwal lined up for scrapping and smelter. From this destruction many aircraft parts were salvaged, airframes rebuilt and now represent the small and significant aircraft collection of Australia’s Warbird history. From Mustang, Kittyhawk and Wirraways to the Vampire, Beaufighter and B24 Liberator only a handful now remain around the world.
As a gliding hub for almost 70 years people come from all over the world to soar at Tocumwal. With the addition of flight training, crop dusting, medical transport and adventure flights, Tocumwal is now a busy regional airfield with many stories to tell.