By Alistair Gray
Members of the Australian Aviation Heritage community, his many friends and followers were deeply saddened to learn of the recent passing of Wally Dalitz, who is believed to be the last surviving World War II pilot to have flown the Bristol Beaufort Bomber. Wally aged 101, passed one month before his 102nd birthday. He enjoyed celebrity status, appearing on Channel 9 and various news media in support of the long ongoing restoration project of a Beaufort Bomber at the Australian Heritage Centre at the Caboolture Airfield.
In 1944 Wally joined 8 Squadron and served in PNG and the South Pacific and flying a Beaufort Bomber took part in the last operational bombing mission in World War II. He later transferred to 100 Squadron and was involved in post war reconnaissance and survey work.
“A thorough gentlemen. You couldn’t keep him out of the Beaufort,” the principal driver and investor behind the Beaufort Restoration Project, Ralph Cusack said. “The goal has been to get the Beaufort to fly again and Wally Dalitz had shared the dream to do just that.”
“I would like to be sitting up in one. It was a dream machine to fly,” Wally said when being interviewed back in 2022 for a special Anzac Day video by LNP leader David Crisafulli.
Thank you, Wally Dalitz. Fly high and Rest in Peace.
Many of our readers didn’t have the pleasure of meeting Wally Dalitz. However, you can help keep his dream alive of restoring the Beaufort and at the same time remember those brave aviators who sacrificed so much to defend this country and the freedoms we now enjoy by volunteering at Aviation Heritage Centre, Caboolture Airfield. The centre is in desperate need of volunteers.
For more information, please contact Rod Thiesford 0407 030 381 or email info@aahcqld.org.au
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