Bellman Hangar - Bellman Hangars in Australia

Bellman Hangars in Australia

Bellmans were also produced in Australia from c.1939–1945. They are often stated to have been made by Lysaght, but a recent history on Comeng (Commonwealth Engineering) reports that that Waddington Engineering made over 200 Bellmans of a total of 283 ordered by the Air Ministry in Australia, however the steel within the structures are clearly marked as Lysaght suggesting the materials were sourced by Waddington from Lysaght, possibly explaining the conflicting stories. They were designed as easily transportable, temporary hangars which could be erected using unskilled labour. They were used on war-time airfields constructed across Australia, particularly training airfields.

Post war many were removed from the temporary wartime airfields as they closed or downsized for civilian use, and were relocated to expand or consolidate the permanent RAAF bases, or establish new civilian airfields.

In Victoria the following examples survive:

• Four imported UK constructed examples exist on the Southern Tarmac at Point Cook (RAAF Williams)

These are believed to be the only UK examples surviving in Australia.

• A further ten Australian built examples exist on the Northern Tarmac at Point Cook housing the RAAF Museum (RAAF Williams)

(These Bellmans at Point Cook are therefore on the National Heritage List).

• Five exist at the RAAF Laverton base, these are listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List of that base (RAAF Williams)
• A further two exist adjacent to RAAF Laverton base on the road next to the railway, on land excised from the site.
• Thirteen exist at (Moorabbin Airport), having been moved from elsewhere when that civilian airfield was created post war.
• Twelve exist at (RAAF Base East Sale). Now the Central Flying School but was the former No.1 Operational Training Unit under EATS.
• Five exist at (Ballarat Airport), the former No. 1 Wireless Air Gunnery School under EATS,

(These Bellmans are listed on the Victorian Heritage Register).

• Three were at Fishermen's Bend (Victoria) at the site of the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation factory.

(These have since been relocated to Tyabb Airport.)

• Two Bellmans exist at (Essendon Airport), possibly relating to either DAP aircraft manufacturing or the EFTS operating on the site during WW2.
• One Bellman exists at (Mildura Airport), the former No.2 Operational Training Unit
• One exists at Benalla Airport, the former 11 Elementary Flying Training School under EATS (Empire Air Training Scheme)
• One exists at Nhill Airport, the former No.2 Air Navigator School under EATS.
• One exists ar West Sale Airport
• About six were at Tottenham the former RAAF stores - but may have been removed by now.

In South Australia the following examples survive:

• Three at Parafield Airport, Adelaide, the former No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School 1940-1944. Two have been re-clad, but one which houses the Classic Jets Fighter Museum is in original condition
• One at Mount Gambier Airport, the former No. 2 Air Observers School 1941-1946. It has been re-clad
• One at Port Pirie Airport, the former No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School 1941-1943. It is in original condition

Others existing in other parts of Australia include:

• RAAF Base Wagga (Forest Hill) central NSW, has some 14 surviving Bellman Hangars.
• In northern NSW, Evan's Head Memorial Aerodrome has one heritage-listed Bellman Hangar, from an original 17 on the site
• One survives at Maryborough Airport, Queensland.
• Two at RAAF Base Townsville Qld, re-clad
• One at RAAF Base Fairbairn, Canberra Airport ACT
• Three at Macrossan Stores Depot near Charters Towers (Queensland)
• One at Jezzine Barracks, Townsville Qld
• Two in the General Aviation area at Cairns Airport Qld, one which houses the North Queensland Aero Club in near-original condition, another housing Skytrans, more altered
• Four at HMAS Albatross (air station) NSW believed erected when used by the RAAF in 1944
• One at the Army Aviation Centre, Oakey (Queensland)
• One owned by the Darling Downs Aero Club at Toowoomba (Queensland)
• One owned by Chrisair Maintenance in Mackay Queensland
• One occupied on Temora Airport, NSW, by the Temora Aero Club
• One was dismantled and transported from Parkes, NSW and set up at Vung Tau Air Base by No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron (5ACS) during the Vietnam war and may still exist