In a heartfelt tribute to the aviation legend and World War II hero Wally Dalitz, the team at the Australian Aviation Heritage Centre (AAHC) is determined to see the restoration of a Beaufort bomber aircraft to flying condition.
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Mr Dalitz, who passed away on 27 March 2024 at the age of 101, was a beloved figure in the Caboolture flying community and a staunch supporter of the Beaufort restoration project.
A Beaufort bomber pilot during WWII, Mr Dalitz had expressed his desire to see the iconic Australian-built aircraft take to the skies one more time before he died. Sadly, the project, which has been in the works for over 40 years, was not completed before his passing.
However, restoration expert Ralph Cusack and his team are now more committed than ever to honouring Mr Dalitz’s legacy by finishing the restoration.
The AAHC launched a crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe last year to restore Mr Dalitz’s Beaufort bomber aircraft and get it flying again. The AAHC has set an initial goal of $250,000 to kickstart the Beaufort restoration project, although the ultimate goal was to raise $1 million to see it through to completion.
“Your donation will help get this aircraft restored and flying. It will be the only flying example in the world!” said Jason Hazell, a committee member at the AAHC. “We will keep a record of all donations and everyone will be invited to that special day it takes to the skies.”
Mr Dalitz, who enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1940 when he was 18 years old, learned to fly the Tiger Moth aircraft before transitioning to the Beaufort bomber. He served with the 8th Squadron in Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific, participating in the last operational bombing mission of the Beaufort during the war.
The Beaufort bomber, designed and produced in Australia, played a crucial role in the country’s defence during WWII. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, a third of whom were women, the Beaufort’s production was a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of the Australian people.
In a fitting tribute to the remarkable life of Wally Dalitz, his family will hold his final farewell in June at the Caboolture Airfield.
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Mr Dalitz’s ashes will board the very same Tiger Moth aircraft he had flown during a media interview just a year prior, fulfilling his request to have his remains scattered over the Bribie Island passage. As the Tiger Moth takes to the skies, it will serve as a poignant reminder of Mr Dalitz’s enduring passion for aviation and the legacy he leaves behind.
Featured image credit: Australian Aviation Heritage Centre – QLD/Facebook
Published 9-April-2024
