Wonderful story and an example of the "greatest generation"....stoic and full of confidence with high standards.
By the way there is a legion of lost opportunities with significant WW2 RAAF significant RAAF types. The RAAF Museum knocked back an ex-RNZAF Sunderland because we didn't have a building for it! A flying Lanc was a possibility when the French Navy pensioned theirs off from New Caledonia. One flew into Australia enroute to Scotland for a private collection. In addition when the Indian Air Force stopped flying B-24's in the 1970's again we were offered one if we paid for the ferry to Oz. We didn't and these aircraft went to Canadian Air Force museum, the RAF museum and private collectors.
That's OK we'll pay millions for abstract paintings and "stolen" Indian artefacts!