A sanctuary for seaplanes

“Every wind is fair when you are flying from misfortune…”

Sophocles

Melissa and I have spent the past week chasing impressionist art across Victoria. We actually encountered more than we bargained for. Just outside Swan Hill we saw signs for a Flying Boat Museum. I was excited, Melissa was indulgent. Lake Boga is a nearly circular lake, a couple of miles wide. During the initial bombing of Darwin in WW2, the Allies lost significant numbers of their flying boats. These so called Black Cats, PBY Catalinas, were vital in the waters of the Pacific. The threat of long range Japanese air attack meant finding a body of water for a Catalina training and repair base, well inland but still able to reach Darwin, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. The museum now located at the old Lake Boga No.1 Flying Boat base is very impressive, complete with a fully restored Catalina. Melissa mentioned to the guide that she thought her late uncle John had flown Catalinas during WW2. A few minutes on the museum computers and we had a record of his service. #ofcourseIboughtamodel #letsmakelemonade