Royal Australian Air Force
Caribou  (DHC-4)

Page 1

 

Tenders open for Caribou

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare announced the release of the tender to dispose of retired Caribou aircraft.

Mr Clare said that two of the fleet will be reserved for sale to historical organisations that will preserve the aircraft as flying examples of military heritage.

A number of Caribou components will also be made available only to historical organisations and Returned Service Organisations, such as RSL’s.

“The Caribou has had a long and distinguished history with the Australian Defence Force,” Mr Clare said.

“It was first brought into service in Vietnam and has served with distinction for nearly half a century.

“The aircraft was famous for its ability to take off and land on short and unprepared runways.

“This unique ability allowed the Caribou to play a major role in relief operations both within Australia and internationally.

“Due to the historic significance of the aircraft, we have reserved a number of Caribou components for preservation at RSL’s and historical organisations.”

During service, the Caribou aircraft were based at RAAF Richmond NSW, RAAF Amberley QLD and RAAF Townsville QLD. 

Two of the aircraft have already been presented to the RAAF Museum at Point Cook and the Australian War Memorial.

Interested parties should go to www.tenders.gov.au or contact the Defence Disposals Agency on (02) 9393 2914 for more information.

The closing date for tenders is 1 March 2011.

Media contact: Korena Flanagan - 0418 251 316

 

 

 

 

 

Wing Commander, Anthony Thorpe (left), Minister for Defence Materiel, Jason Clare MP (centre) and Warrant Officer, Craig Smith (right) at the release of the tender to dispose of retired Caribou aircraft.

 

 
The Royal Australian Air Force operated 29 Caribous starting in 1964 and retiring the last Caribou on November 27, 2009           Updated September 4, 2010
C/N
RAAF Number
Delivery Date
Callsign
Status
134
A4-134
3/64
VM-JMA
 Crashed/Destroyed  7/64 w/o. Fuselage at Bandiana Army Museum in Victoria
140
A4-140
3/64
VM-LMB
Retired and flown to Canberra airport on Nov 27, 2009. Presented to the Australian War Memorial. It will be partially dismantled over the next six months by Qantas and then placed at the Australian War Memorial's annex in Mitchell, Canberra.
147
A4-147
3/64
VM-JMC
 Crashed/Destroyed 6/68 w/o
152
A4-152
5/64
VM-JMI
Was presented to the RAAF Museum at  Point Cook on Nov 26, 2009. It is currently on outside display but will be placed under cover at some future point.
159
A4-159
5/64
VM-LWK
 Fuselage at Brisbane Airport as a fire fighter's training aid.  The nose section of A4-159 has been bought by the Queensland Air Museum and relocated to Caloundra.
164
A4-164
5/64
VM-JMN
Used as training aide at Richmond Air Base, NSW
171
A4-171
7/64
Unknown
 Crashed/Destroyed 8/67 w/o
173
A4-173
7/64
VM-LWB
On display at the Queensland Air Museum in Caloundra.
179
A4-179
7/64
VM-JMD
Used as training aide at Richmond Air Base, NSW
185
A4-185
7/64
Unknown
 Crashed/Destroyed 11/64 w/o
191
A4-191
7/64
VM-JMM
 Remain at RAAF Amberley as hulk.
193
A4-193
7/64
Unknown
 Destroyed 7/71
195
A4-195
9/64
VM-LWY
 Stored at the Oakey Army Airfield near Toowoomba, Queensland awaiting government disposal plan approval.
199
A4-199
9/64
VM-JMZ
 At RAAF Base Townsville for eventual display.
202
A4-202
9/64
Unknown
 Crashed/Destroyed 3/65
204
A4-204
11/64
VM-JMT
 At the Australian Aerospace overhaul facility at Brisbane Airport minus wings, tail feathers and props.
208
A4-208
11/64
VM-JMG
 Withdrawn from service, parked at Oakey Army Base and used for spare parts.
210
A4-210
11/64
VM-JMU
 Stored at the Oakey Army Airfield near Toowoomba, Queensland awaiting government disposal plan approval.
225
A4-225
6/65
VM-JMA
 Stored at the Oakey Army Airfield near Toowoomba, Queensland awaiting government disposal plan approval.
228
A4-228
6/65
VM-JME
Stored at the Oakey Army Airfield near Toowoomba, Queensland awaiting government disposal plan approval.
231
A4-231
6/65
VM-JMK
 Stored at the Oakey Army Airfield near Toowoomba, Queensland awaiting government disposal plan approval.
233
A4-233
8/65
Unknown
 Crashed/Destroyed 8/72
234
A4-234
8/65
VM-LWH
Stored at the Oakey Army Airfield near Toowoomba, Queensland awaiting government disposal plan approval.
235
A4-235
8/65
VM-JMV
 Remain at RAAF Amberley as hulk.
236
A4-236
8/65
VM-JMF
 At RAAF Base Amberley for eventual display.
264
A4-264
5/68
VM-JMQ
 Used as training aide at Richmond Air Base, NSW
275
A4-275
7/69
VM-JMW
 Stored at the Oakey Army Airfield near Toowoomba, Queensland awaiting government disposal plan approval.
285
A4-285
12/69
VM-JMJ
 Nose section is in the small RAAF Amberley museum, the remainder of the aircraft was cut up and scrapped after being damaged at Efogi, Papua New Guinea,  in August 2008. 
299
A4-JMP
5/71
VM-JMP
 Stored at the Oakey Army Airfield near Toowoomba, Queensland awaiting government disposal plan approval.


Photos taken at the Downunder Airshow in Avalon, Australia in Febraury, 1999  Caribou # A4-199  is from the RAAF 38 Sqn based at RAAF base at Amberly, Queensland . Many thanks to FSGT. Geoff "CHOOK" Swanson and SGT. Andrew "Budge" Newman

Click on photos to enlarge  - All photos taken by Wayne Buser

 

 A group of Australian military officers about to fly in the DHC demonstrator CF-LVA (c/n # 9) during its oz sales tour in Feb 1960. I particularly like the gentleman with the bullhorn standing in the cockpit doorway. The interior and fittings are also quite different to our aircraft. (Warrant Officer Rod Cairns 38 SQN.)

 

 RAAF Caribou at the '95 AirShow DownUnder at Avalon, Victoria -Australia (Andrew Roach)

RAAF Caribou at the '99 Caboolture Airshow at Caboolture, Queensland - Australia. (Andrew Roach)

 

Landing Guari, Papua New Guines
Terry Barker was a Bou pilot with the RAAF who flow many times into the strip at Guari. 
The strip is 600m long (about 2,000ft) and is almost 6,100ft above sea level.

The one-way strip is 30 / 12, with a 6.4% slope down to the NW.  It is on a spur line, at 8min 3sec South, 146min 52 sec East.  The aerial view (left) from the south gives you the overall perspective. (Terry Barker)

 

 

Another shot of a RAAF Caribou landing at Guari. (Ian Sutherland)

 
 
 
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