A proud piece of Australia's aviation history has been preserved for future generations with West Wyalong's much-loved Douglas DC-3 Dakota going through a multi-month restoration to bring it back to its former glory in time for Anzac Day.
The vintage warbird has been a fixture in the town since it was moved from Cootamundra to Lions Park in March 1983.
Restoration on the plane and its installation in Lions Park was completed in the past week.
Bland Shire Council received $167,670 from the NSW Government to repair and upgrade the plane, including site works, concreting, paint stripping and re-painting.
The DC-3 saw service with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) between 1950 and 1974, before being bought by Cootamundra aviator and airline operator Jack Masling OAM for spare parts.
But the local Lions Club decided the old bomber deserved a different fate and approached him about saving it, and Mr Masling agreed to donate the plane to the club as a memorial.
West Wyalong resident John Hudson owned the transport company that moved the plane from Cootamundra to West Wyalong, and says it was quite the effort, with the normally one-hour trip taking a painstaking four hours.
Once relocated, the plane was reassembled by RAAF personnel from Wagga Wagga who were billeted in town overnight and treated to a celebratory BBQ.
The West Wyalong DC-3 was built in 1943 in Oklahoma City and served as a transport aircraft and flying classroom for multi-engine training, search and rescue, navigation and anti-submarine warfare, clocking up 4,254 flying hours before it was retired.
The first DC-3 prototype flew in 1935, starting as a passenger liner in the US but the planes quickly earned a reputation with the US military for freight and transport and supported the D-Day landings at Normandy.
DC3's are affectionately dubbed 'biscuit bombers' for their role doing food drops to troops, including on Papua New Guinea's Kokoda Track during World War II.
After the war these workhorses became a mainstay of global passenger and freight services in regional areas because of their low running costs and ability to perform on rough airfields and with low maintenance.
The restored DC-3 can be viewed in Lions Park every day of the week.
Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:
"It's wonderful to see this local landmark and tourist attraction get a new lease on life and I hope visitors take a moment to pause and reflect on the meaning of service this Anzac Day.
"New landscaping around the plane will make it more accessible for residents and visitors, and will keep this piece of local history, which is a source of immense community pride at the heart of West Wyalong for years to come."
Minister for Veterans David Harris said:
"It is fantastic to see the Douglas DC-3 Dakota has been restored to its former glory just in time for the 110th anniversary of Anzac Day.
"Local landmarks like this allow communities to gain a deeper understanding of the service and sacrifice of our veterans during times of conflict."
Bland Shire Council Mayor Cr Brian Monaghan said:
"The restoration effort, done in partnership with the Royal Australian Air Force's Heritage Restoration Team, is one of the most unique projects he's seen during his time with council.
"This has been a truly rewarding experience for Bland Shire Council, it's not every day you get the opportunity to restore a piece of Australia's aviation history and breathe new life into something so iconic.
"The DC-3 Dakota is a beloved landmark in West Wyalong and this restoration ensures its continued presence as an important part of our community as the plane is not only a piece of the past, but a symbol of our community's pride, and I'm incredibly pleased about the work that's gone into it."
Plane transporter John Hudson said:
"We had quite the crowd that day, I took the fuselage, and another bloke took the wings and we had a police escort and everything.
"We couldn't come down the main road and had to follow the creek and we only took out one powerline and blew a transformer so not a bad effort."
