Beaufort Program Completion Letter

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This is a copy of a letter sent by Mr John Storey, Director of the Beaufort Division (Department of Aircraft Production) to the Managing Director of Consolidated Wire Pty Ltd. upon completion of the program to build Beaufort Bombers in Australia:

TELEGRAMS: BEAUFAIR, MELBOURNE Address all mail to G.P.O. BOX No. 2093 S, C1.		FISHERMEN'S BEND PORT MELBOURNE, S.C. 8 AUSTRALIA TELEPHONE: MXY 660
	COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA DEPARTMENT OF AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION BEAUFORT DIVISION

	Secret and Confidential	September 25, 1944

Mr. F. E. Wright Managing Director Consolidated Wire Pty.Ltd., Mary Street, SYDNEY N.S.W.

Dear Mr. Wright,

	Completion of Beaufort Programme

The Beaufort Division, with the loyal support and assistance of its contractors, completed the first important portion of its programme when it delivered the 700th Beaufort Torpedo Bomber to the R.A.A.F. on August 31, 1944. This represented the culmination of five years of intensive work, during which it was necessary to build up an organisation capable of undertaking large scale aircraft production, involving riot only the establishment of assembly plants, but also the creation and development of' industries for the manufacture of various aircraft parts and components. As you probably know, the original plan envisaged the receipt of all the major components from Great Britain, so that Australia's task would be largely one of assembly. A radical change of plans, however, necessitated in June 1940, when the British Air Ministry advised Australia that no further aircraft materials or parts of any kind could be wade available to the Commonwealth. It was then that the aircraft production authorities found it necessary to call on Australian industry for maximum assistance, and the fact that it has since been possible to build 700 Beaufort Torpedo Bombers and to initiate the manufacture of the famous Beaufighter aircraft is evidence of the manner in which Australian industries, large and small responded to the call. Having successfully completed the Beaufort programme, we are now making very satisfactory progress with the production of the Beaufighter, and here again the Division has had the very greatest assistance and co operation from its contractors. Very shortly we shall be making further demands on our contractors in connection with the manufacture of the famous Lancaster 4 engined bomber, the production of which is now in its early planning stages. Association with these three major projects has given a great many industries in Australia an opportunity of making splendid contributions to the past, present and future security of the Commonwealth, and to the consolidation of British Empire ties and the initiation and development of a great many important industries, which were hitherto unknown in Australia. For all the assistance and enthusiastic co operation which we have received from your Company, I tender the sincere thanks of myself and the Beaufort Division generally. Very truly yours,

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