Narromine Aviation Museum

19/08/2026

Just some of the wonderful feedback we have recently received. If you haven’t been to the Narromine Aviation Museum it’s a must if you are in the district! ✈️🛩️

11/08/2026

Please note: to all our members and ‘friends of the museum’…

08/08/2026

Heading to the Mundi Mundi Bash via Narromine? Don’t miss this!

Make sure you allow a little extra time to stop at the Narromine Aviation Museum - it’s an easy detour and well worth it!

Travelling through Narromine towards Trangie, head out along the Mitchell Highway to the Narromine Aerodrome, where you’ll find this fascinating museum celebrating almost a century of aviation history in the region.

Inside, you’ll discover incredible stories brought to life through photographs, records, artefacts and aircraft - from the pioneering days of aviation through to Narromine’s important wartime history.

Living stories on one of Australia’s truly historic aerodromes.

It’s a great stop for aviation enthusiasts, history buffs, families - or anyone who enjoys discovering the stories behind the places they travel through.

You won’t be disappointed - put it on your Mundi Mundi Bash road-trip itinerary! Open every day (except Tuesday) 10am-4pm.

17/07/2026

🛩️ | Take flight in Narromine
Need something to do these school holidays?
Why not take a trip through the skies without leaving the ground.
Head to the Narromine Aviation Museum and discover a world of aviation history, incredible stories and fascinating displays for the whole family to enjoy.
Open every day (not Tuesday) from 10am - 4pm.
So pack up the kids, plan a day out and let your adventure take flight!
🚗 Visit the Narromine Region - it’s worth the drive!

12/07/2026

The end of an era: Noel was likely the last living graduate of No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School at Narromine. (Please get in touch if you know of anyone else). He's listed with No.31 Course on the museum's Memorial Wall as Noel Mayes; he later changed to his father's surname, McDermott.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19CPtGXvHJ/

We are deeply saddened to learn of the recent passing of South Australian based WW2 Bomber Command veteran, Noel McDermott.

Born in Ayr, Queensland, in December 1922, Noel was a telephonist working with the Post-Masters General when he enlisted in the RAAF in October 1942. He completed basic flying training at No 5 Elementary Flying Training School, Narromine, and then advanced flying training at No 1 Service Flying Training School, Point Cook, receiving his Wings in November 1943.

Selected for duty in Europe, Noel arrived in the UK in late January 1944 and was posted into a holding position at No. 11 Personnel Despatch and Reception Centre at Brighton from February to early June. During this time he was attached to several flying schools completing various training. He was then posted to No 11 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit at RAF Calverley in Cheshire for in-country family training on Airspeed Oxfords. In early August 1944, he was posted to No 85 Operational Training Unit flying the Vickers Wellington at RAF Husbands Bosworth in Leicestershire. He then attended No 1662 Heavy Conversion Unit at RAF Elsham Wolds in Lincolnshire.

In late February 1945, he was posted to No 625 Squadron. Based at RAF Kelstern in Lincolnshire, 625 SQN (RAF) flew Avro Lancasters as part of No. 1 Group RAF in Bomber Command. Noel flew 13 operational missions recording 84 operational flying hours with 625 SQN.

He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in late March 1945.

In early April, 625 SQN was disbanded and Noel was posted along with others to form C Flight of No 576 Squadron based at RAF Fiskerton near Lincoln which also flew the Avro Lancaster. With 576 SQN, he flew seven operational missions recording nearly 40 operational flying hours between April and September 1945. He was promoted to Flying Officer in September 1945.

Returning to Australia in late 1945, he was discharged from the RAAF in December.

He was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the France and Germany Star, Australian Service Medal 1939-1945, the Defence Medal, and the War Medal 1939-1945.

Noel was a long-time member of the Air Force Association Mitcham Branch.

Noel was the last South Australian based Bomber Command pilot that we are aware of.

Fair skies Noel and thank you for your service.

You are one of a special generation that gave so much for our Nation in WW2 for which our country will be forever indebted to. Your service will not be forgotten.

Image of Noel McDermott courtesy of Australian War Memorial Digital Online Collection taken in 2016 as part of the Memorials "Reflections – Honouring our World War Two Veterans" project.

21/06/2026

This invitation from the Narromine RSL Sub-Branch is open to the whole community…mark the diary for this moving event on 31 July 2026.

19/05/2026

Thank you to our wonderful volunteers! If you would like to join our team of volunteers, please get in touch by calling 0419 274762.

15/05/2026

"A thoroughly keen and efficient officer"
Vale Ron Leckie, 1922-2026

On Wednesday this week, Ron Harry Leckie was farewelled at the Macquarie Park Crematorium in Sydney at the age of 104.

At the age of 20, Sydney-born Ron decided to forego his job as a shipping clerk to join the wartime RAAF. Training in air navigation, he flew initially with 35 (Transport) Squadron based in Perth. In April 1944 he transferred to 31 Squadron at Coomalie Creek, Darwin, navigating Australian-built Beaufighters on attack missions against Japanese positions to the north. One of the pilots he flew with was the squadron commander, D'Arcy Wentworth. Ron and D'Arcy later married Narromine women: D'Arcy to Alice Trescowthick of "Woodlands", and Ron to Joyce Lloyd of "Ossary" in 1949. Early in the war Joyce had served at RAAF Station Narromine's sick quarters with the Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD), before transferring to the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF).

Post-war, Flight Lieutenant Leckie volunteered to join 93 Squadron RAAF which, after brief combat in Borneo, re-formed at Narromine. Returning to Borneo with the squadron, he flew as navigator in the lead Beaufighter which escorted the Mustang fighters of 77 Squadron RAAF to Japan to join the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF). After two months away, Ron returned to Narromine with the Beaufighters in April 1946.

About twenty years ago, Ron jotted down some notes about that memorable flight to Japan: “The frustration of delays, the dicey weather (to say that the navigators were unsure of their position in 10/10 cloud would be an understatement), the devastation of Manila and Hiroshima; the quaint village of Bofu (Honshu Island, Japan), the surrounding countryside, and the sullen faces of the Japanese.” In 1977 he returned to the air when he took up the sport of gliding at Narromine.

On Remembrance Day 2004 Ron and Joyce attended a reunion of Narromine's wartime personnel, Ron sharing recollections there with 93 Squadron pilot Bill Hosking. He donated to the museum the fruits of his research into that little-known squadron, along with a 1944 group photograph of the men of 466 (Halifax bomber) Squadron RAAF in England. Commanding Officer of 466 was Ron's brother-in-law, Alan Wharton (who had learned to fly at Narromine), husband of Joyce's sister Jean Lloyd. A third Lloyd sister, Peg, was a volunteer with the museum.

Ron's logbook pages detailing his 1946 flight to Japan are displayed in the museum's 93 Squadron display. The 466 Squadron photo, along with Alan Wharton's logbook (also donated by Ron), are in our RAAF flying training display.

Ron was not only "thoroughly keen and efficient" as his RAAF assessment testified; he was also a thoroughly pleasant, intelligent and humble man.

20/04/2026

We are celebrating another milestone event out at the museum today…our long time committee member and volunteer Bob Richardson is celebrating his 90th birthday. Happy birthday Bob and thank you for all you do/have done at the museum over the years. Photo taken of Bob with his wife Jean at yesterdays celebration at the Aero Club 🎉🎉

08/04/2026

The skies above Narromine are set to come alive next week as the Narromine Aero Club hosts the Australian Aerobatic Club NSW Championships! ✈️

Bring the kids out from Thursday to Saturday to experience the thrill of high-flying aerobatics and an unforgettable atmosphere.
While you're out here, don’t miss the chance to visit the Narromine Aviation Museum and explore Narromine’s rich aviation history, a perfect way to round out a great family day out!!

The bar will be open from 4.30pm on Thursday and Friday and the bistro from 6.00pm Friday.