Bob Miles enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in May 1940. He trained as Fitter in 1941, then as an Air Gunner in 1942. He was in 11 Squadron and 20 Squadron. Both Squadrons flew Catalinas on special missions dropping sea mines into enemy controlled harbors. These Catalinas were painted black for night missions and were known as the Black Cats. The Black Cat Catalina flying boats were serviced at the No 1 Flying Boat Repair Depot, Lake Boga, during World War II.Corporal Bob Miles' logbook shows he was at the No 1 Flying Boat Repair Depot, Lake Boga, on February 1st - 2nd 1945 for air testing. He was in Catalina A24-304.Black and white photograph of 13 enlisted men. 2 rows of men, 7 men standing in the back row, 6 men squatting in the front row. Corrugated iron buildings in the background. Front of Photo -2ND RIGHT BOTTOM ROW BOB MILES Back of Photo - Bob Miles/2nd Right Bottom Row. 14 signatures. /HUT 73/No 2 B.A.G.S./PORT PIRIE/13-10-1941(8HRS DAY /MARCH)bob miles, catalina, wwii, lake boga, flying boat depot, black cats

German built, designed by Dornier Flugzeugwerke. Owned by Netherlands East Airforce until 1942, acquired by the RAAF 1942. One of six numbered A49 1-6. In service until 1946 when decommissioned at Lake Boga Flying Boat Repair Depot. Hank Horsfall from Echuca acquired it and converted it to a houseboat in the early 1980s. Used as a houseboat until about 2000. Then acquired by the Moama RSL who stored it for 10 years. Dick Peel brought it back to Lake Boga Flying boat Museum in 2014. Has been on display in the museum since then.An aircraft used by both sides of the war, the Axis and the Allies. One of six purchased from the Netherlands East Airforce by the RAAF during wartime. Was serviced at the Lake Boga Flying Boat Repair Depot during war time. Now the only one in the Southern hemisphere.Dark green painted forward fuselage, aluminium alloyRAAF A49dornier, do24, dutch aircraft, houseboat echuca, wwii, world war ii

War Loan Rally and RAAF Flying Boats at St Kilda Pier, Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th March 1946. 2 copies of memo from JM Harry, Dist Traffic Superintendent, to Depot Masters, Hanna St, Malvern & Glenhuntly depots.Several notations written in red pencil across both copies.trams, tramways, letters, instructions, events, display, raaf, st kilda

Built in 1938 by Consolidated Air Craft company in the USA. Attached to Netherlands East Airforce until 1942. Acquired by RAAF and used as a training airplane at 3 OTU until 1946. Sold to Kingsford Smith Aviation Services who removed the engines and wings. Body purchased by Maher family, Nyah West. Donated to Lake Boga Lions Club in 1984 to be the central exhibit at the Flying Boat Museum. Further parts acquired. Centre wing section from Boundary Bend, VIC, outer wing sections from Gilgandra, NSW, and original Perspex for gun blisters from Frigate Bird II, donated by HARS (Historical Aircraft Restoration Society). Painted in 2012 by HARS.An airplane used by the RAAF during World War II, one of the types serviced at Lake Boga Flying Boat Repair Depot during war time, decommissioned at Lake Boga in 1946, ex Netherlands East Airforce.Flying Boat painted in Pacific Blue, made of DuraliumA24-30world war ii, wwii, flying boat, catalina, pby5