The 1950s De Havilland ‘Vampire’ fighter jet has been restored to its former glory at RAAF Base Amberley.
The RAAF’s 23 (City of Brisbane) Squadron ceased flying the Vampire (A79-440) a decade later.
It was then mounted as a Gate Guardian near the entrance at Amberley and as the base expanded, more space was required, so the aircraft was taken down and sold.
In 2020, the History and Heritage – Air Force Restoration Support Section re-acquired the airframe in and a team of volunteers began to repair the aircraft.
The ‘Vampire’ is now restored as a static display at RAAF Amberley’s Aviation Heritage Centre.
Warrant Officer Paul Wendt, of RSS, said the team went to great lengths to return the aircraft as closely as possible to its original condition.
“This has been one of the best restorations we’ve done in a long time,” Warrant Officer Wendt said.
“It took our team of mostly volunteers about 18 months to complete.
“Our aim is to avoid refabricating parts as much as we can, so we ended up picking the best pieces from other aircraft and restoring them to their original condition.”
Today, 23 Squadron is responsible for delivering safe and effective airbase operations, which includes airfield services, firefighters, physical training instructors, cooks, mechanics and air movements.
23 Squadron Warrant Officer Aaron Reynolds said refurbishment of the Vampire was an important reminder to all service members of the significance of their contribution to air power.
“For 23 Squadron personnel, the restoration of the Vampire is a reminder of the unit’s historical contribution to Australian air power, and while we don’t fly any more, we continue to enable the RAAF to operate across the globe right here from our base at Amberley,” Warrant Officer Reynolds said.
