Historical information

This item was donated by Colin Laurence Grey OAM. Colin was the driving force behind many of the displays at the National Vietnam Veterans Museum. He will be remembered for his expertise, and boundless enthusiasm for all things Australian. Colin organised teams of like-minded souls to bring home and restore many important historical aircraft. His success has been recognised and rewarded with an Order of Australian Medal 2000, and he is named in the Worldwide Who’s Who 2014-2015.
Colin’s skills as an engineer, tool maker, boiler maker and organiser enabled him to restore steam trains, trucks, tanks, infantry weapons, various aircraft including a MIG-15 jet fighter and his largest project the Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber. He even replicated two dinosaur skeletons for Museum Victoria.
In 1989 Colin joined the fledgling B-24 Liberator Memorial Fund as Project Manager/Restoration Co-Ordinator with the task to build a volunteer organisation that could find the AUD$10m required, source parts and materials for the largest aircraft restoration in Australia. The B-24 program had 10 volunteers, 60 sponsors and an international support network that provided parts, tooling, aviation equipment and political support. Colin’s combined engineering, academic and logistical skills provided the basis for advancing the skills of a very disparate group of volunteers form all walks of life. Colin established links with Centrelink, Corrections Victoria, RMT Uni and the ADF to develop the skills base of many less fortunate individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Colin’s work in this area gained him an AOM (2000). He featured in an ABC Australian Stories program and was awarded a life membership of the organisation.
Colin was a founding member and President of the Oceania Aviation Museum Inc. which was instrumental in the historic listing of the joint WW2 USAAC/RAAF facility at Werribee and the Preserve Point Cook Aerodrome Group.
Colin developed best practice engineering and fund-raising programs for a volunteer group, the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre.
Colin’s constant learning, curiosity, passion and contribution to all things Australian have been an inspiration and a great example to all of us. He will be sorely missed and fondly remembered.

Physical description

A yellow plastic cover with a window in the front. Near the top of the cover there is the Royal Australian Air Force Insignia with Royal Australian Air force and Engineering Publication. Through the window is the title of the Manual. Inside a plastic sleeve on yellow cardboard are the full details of the manual. The manual is held together with a large metal slide.