The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Flanked by two Beaufort bombers, the Director of the Government Aircraft Factory (GAF), Beaufort Division, Mr John Storey (civilian standing on podium) is presenting the Log Book of the 500th Beaufort assembled by GAF, to O31 (10) Chief of the Air Staff, Air-Vice Marshal George Jones, CB CBE DFC, in the presence of the Employees of the Beaufort Division. Making the Beaufort was an enormous effort for Australia. Each bomber needed 39,000 carefully manufactured parts. Drawing on a tiny industrial base and few skilled workers, the Beaufort Division of the Department of Aircraft Production (DAP), also called the Government Aircraft Factory (GAF), grew until it occupied seven large factories in three states (Vic, NSW and SA). DAP had 8,500 employees, of which one-third were women. Tens of thousands more people worked for the 600 private subcontractors engaged to make components.
A ceremony to commemorate the delivery of the 500th Beaufort to the Royal Australian Air Force. Identified on the podium from left to right: Mr John Storey, Director, Government Aircraft Factory (GAF)
The 500th Beaufort assembled by the Government Aircraft Factory (GAF), Beaufort Division, also known as the Department of Aircraft Production (DAP), takes to the air after a formal presentation to the
Unidentified workers carefully position the stern frame for attachment to the rear fuselage in one of the main assembly workshops operated by the Government Aircraft Factory (GAF), Beaufort Division.
The rear fuselage section of a Beaufort being placed in a special container for transport to one of the main assembly workshops operated by the Government Aircraft Factory (GAF), Beaufort Division.
The interior of the main Department of Aircraft Production (Beaufort Division) Factory showing DAP Beaufort bombers during manufacture. The DAP factory was located next door to the Commonwealth Aircra
Unidentified workers offering up the rear fuselage section to the central wing and centre fuselage section of a Beaufort, in one of the main assembly workshops operated by the Government Aircraft Fact
