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PRICELESS memorabilia and artefacts detailing Mildura’s involvement in World War II have returned to public exhibition after its former home was damaged by storms in November last year.

Mildura’s No.2 Operational Training Unit played a pivotal role in training fighter pilots during the conflict, and the RAAF Museum pays tribute to those who trained at the Mildura Airport base.

The memorabilia was formerly displayed in the original 80-year-old OTU headquarters building adjacent to the old parade grounds at the airport but with an anticipated lifespan of just five years combined with the fury of Mother Nature in 2021, the building was deemed inhabitable.

With the required works to refurbish the ageing building estimated to be in the vicinity of $400,000, Mildura RSL, which had taken charge of the museum from the RAAF Association, began looking for alternatives.

Mildura RSL veteran services manager Paul Mensch said the memorabilia was meticulously transferred to the former Tandou building also on the airport site in time for the 80th anniversary of the No.2 OTU in April. It was now open to the wider community.

The new museum home features themed rooms including “Heroes’ Stories”, medals and memorabilia, men and women of Mildura who served in the air force, prominent people who trained at No.2 OTU, those killed in conflicts as well as a commemoration of the 52 pilots and seven ground crew who died while training at Mildura.

An honour board listing the names of those killed while training at No.2OTU is the only item in the museum that is heritage-listed.

Mr Mensch said the task of moving the collection of wartime items sourced and donated over the past 20 years was no easy feat.

“It was a serious amount of work,” he said.

“Luckily the photo boards were bolted to the walls so it was literally taking them off one wall and putting them back on another, but we did have to be careful moving them.

“We’ve still got some engine blocks still over at the old building that we’re going to bring across, but 95 per cent is over here now.

“Moving a museum is not fun.

“Some of the larger models of aircraft from the old museum that won’t fit onto the lower ceilings of the new building will be displayed in the departure and arrival areas of the terminal buildings.

More than 1200 pilots trained in Mildura, where they undertook their final conversion on to fighter planes before being sent into battle in the South Pacific, while more than 200 Women’s Auxiliary Air Force personnel were based onsite at any one time during the conflict.

“Mildura had quite a large RAAF contingent and not just at the base here,” Mr Mensch said.

“For local families, the chances of them finding someone related to them within the building are pretty high,” Mr Mensch said.

About 60 local airmen died in the World War II conflict.

Mr Mensch said it was hoped there would be another move in the offering with plans to eventually shift all displays, artefacts and memorabilia into a Bellman hangar at the airport.

“We got a grant through of $150,000 to do a feasibility study with the idea to completely refurbish the original World War II Bellman hangar to have mezzanines and tiers and full displays as well as aircraft,” he said.

“We have got a Sabre jet being refurbished at the moment that could be on display in the hanger and we could also look to procure more relevant aircraft,” he said.

Mr Mensch said works to the Bellman hanger would be in the vicinity of $1 million to $2 million and would be dependent on government funding.

He said the Mildura RAAF Museum was always on the lookout for volunteers to help staff the building during open hours, which are Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 2pm.

Article written by: Allan Murphy

Article provided by The Sunraysia Daily
https://www.sunraysiadaily.com.au