HARS Aircraft Collection
All aircraft in the HARS fleet
are either owned by HARS or are leased. The Beaufighter and P-47D 42-27608 are
official HARS projects. The Society is an incorporated body of
400+ individuals. Their collection also
includes: a PBY, a Lockheed Constellation, Two C-47, Two Lockheed
RB-69
Neptune
bombers,
A Canberra, Two Vampires, Winjeel, Cessna 108 & 310,
Cessna T-41, Drover, Tigermoth, Pingouin (BF-108B).The collection
was located at Mascot Airport, and today the WWII aircraft
are stored at Bankstown Airport.
C-47B Dakota serial number A65-94
Ex-RAAF Dakota acquired by HARS in 2000. Registered as VH-EAF.
C-47B Dakota serial number A65-95
Ex-RAAF Dakota acquired by HARS in 2000.
PBY-6A Catalina Bureau Number 46679
Acquired by HARS in early 2002, painted in the markings of PB2B-2 Catalina VI A24-362 OX-V "Felix"
Lockheed 12 Electra Junior
Fuselage and center section on loan to HARS, owned by Museum Victoria
CA-3 Wirraway A20-99
HARS joint venture between Eric Lundberg, Robert Greinert, Jay Lazarus, Jack Smid, Bill Smith, Jason Cockayne
Robert Greinert Collection / Historic Aircraft Restorations Pty Limited
Australian Robert
Greinert the former treasurer of HARS is the owner of many of the World War II aircraft in the Historic Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) collection. He maintains
a restoration
facility primarily geared to restoring the two P-47s he has
acquired from Papua New Guinea (PNG) and he has recovered aircraft and parts from Papua New Guinea (PNG), Australia and other Pacific nations. Confusingly he is the founder of Historic Aircraft Restorations Pty Limited (HAR), whose name is very similar to Historic Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS). During 2001, Robert Greinert salvaged the tail section and machine gun from P-47D "Fiery Ginger IV" 42-22668 and donated them to the USAF Museum. During 3003, Robert Greinert and HARS volunteers helped restore Beaufort A9-557 completed in 2003 for Australian War Memorial (AWM).
P-47D Thunderbolt Serial Number 42-8066
Acquired 1995 by Greinert, under restoration since the late 1990s
P-47D Thunderbolt Serial Number 42-27608
Salvaged
2000 from PNG by Greinert, being used as a pattern for P-47 42-8066
P-47D Thunderbolt Serial Number 42-22687
Pilot
Lutes MIA April 29, 1944. Pilot Missing In Action, salvaged during October 2004 Greinert interview about its salvage
Ki-61 Tony Manufacture
Number 299
Forward
fuselage only, arrived 2002, transferred to Precision Aerospace circa 2004
References
Australian Government ABN 13 294 026 244 - Historical Aircraft Restoration Society active from November 1, 1999
HARS Restoration Team at AWM by Robert Greinert March 28, 2003
Supreme Court of New South Wales - Greinert v Jarrett [2004] NSWSC 209 (24 March 2004)
"Mr Greinert, is the secretary and head of restoration of the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society. The Society's business is the salvage and restoration of antique aircraft. It undertakes projects for public institutions such as museums, as well as for private individuals."
The Sydney Morning Herald "Aircraft society rejects smuggling claim" December 23, 2005
PNG Public Accounts Committee (PAC) - Inquiry into the National Museum and Art Gallery and the Sale and Export of the Swamp Ghost Aircraft September 2006
PNG Public Accounts Committee (PAC) - Inquiry into the National Museum and Art Gallery and the Sale and Export of the Swamp Ghost Aircraft [Excerpts mentioning "Robert Greinert" and "Historical Aircraft Restoration Society" or "HARS"] September 2006
PNG IPA "Historic Aircraft Restorations Society Ltd (1-54985) registered October 24, 2005 de-registered May 30, 2008
Classic Wings Issue 78 "Return to Thunder Alley" pages 22-25 Vol 17, No 5 2010
"[p22]...our interest is in the workshop hanger [at HARS / Albion Park Airport], measuring some 40m x 40m which was established to pursue the completion of the restoration of the three 'Jugs'... [p24] The original workshop was established, curiously enough, at Kingsford Smith Airport, Mascot, also known as Sydney International Airport. This site served the project well for several years before the purpose-built facility was completed at Albion Park. [p25] Taking on three at once [P-47 restorations] has added to the challenge, some economies of scale notwithstanding, and of course the number of times Robert [Greinert] has been asked to take off his restoration shop manager's hat and don the Indiana Jones garments of 'Jungle Bob, aircraft rescuer' has disrupted the smooth flow from time to time but has certainly helped to bring this trio of rare [P-47] aircraft closer to completion."
Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) via Wayback Machine October 28, 2011
YouTube "60 Minutes Australia - Plane Wrong Part 1" aired September 4, 2016
YouTube "60 Minutes Australia - Plane Wrong Part 2"
aired September 4, 2016
