Bunny II was built by Australian Army air corps personnel from the 161 Possums using salvaged parts in Vung Tau, Vietnam, in 1970. Dating back to the 1950s, the bunny design on the tail of an aircraft has come to represent the tradition and spirit of Naval Aviation.Colored photograph in a black frame. In the foreground on the tarmac is a small black plane with 161 in red near the nose. There is a white strip down the side of the plane. Also has an image of a white bunny on the tail of the plane. The rotors also have a white tip on them. Behind the plane is a truck with a soldier in it. There is a small hill in the background. On the bottom of the photograph reads Bunny 11.Bunny 11/ 161/white bunny on tail. plane, truck, tarmac, white bunny, bunny 11, 161 recce, birddog, cessna, bird dog, navy aircraft

This particular aircraft was modified with a search radar in the lower fuselage to help locate and track targets and was then redesignated as a B-24R model. The RAAF took A72-176 on charge in late 1944 and this saw it issued to 7 OTU (Operational Training Unit) based at Tocumwal, south west NSW. The training saw bomber crews learn how to fly the bomber, operate as a team and work with fighters. Towards the end of the war there were up to 50 aircraft located at Tocumwal along with 5000 personnel. A72-176 was noted as flown on training missions by various aircrew.This aircraft is one of the only remaining B-24 bombers in the southern hemisphere and 1 of only 8 remaining B-24 airframes still existing in the world, out of the nearly 19,000 which were originally built. The restoration honours the contribution of one of the RAAF’s main bombers of the WWII era. This restored Liberator aircraft was assembled from parts salvaged from B-24M models, manufactured during the 1940s in the USA. Made from aluminium, the plane is 68 feet long, with a wingspan of 110 feet, and is metallic silver with a distinctive blue and white target design on each side. The aircraft is powered by four wing-mounted engines, and is fitted with 10 heavy machine guns.Registration number on side of fuselage at rear of plane: 'A72-176' Inscription on side of fuselage at front of plane: 'ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE / US ARMY B24-10 CO / AIR FORCES SERIAL NUMBER 44-41956' aircraft, liberator, bomber, wwii

Created for the purpose of bomb delivery from B-24 Liberator aircraft. The item was originally fitted to RAAF Liberator 72-176. During salvage and disposal operations it was damaged losing 50% of the body. The item was used as a reference to manufacture a complete example.An example of late 1930's engineering practice in an endeavour to modernise aircraft technology.The item has 50% of it's body missing.Quadrant base and operative lever.Quarter circle casting with operating handle attached,base is squared off with rivets attaching both parts.Bomb doors, 32-F-7523 (part number) three times, closed, open, safe, select.