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35 Sqn Crest38 Sqn CrestRAAF CARIBOU

A4 - TAIL NUMBERS

that served with

RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam (RTFV),
35 Squadron and 38 Squadron
Royal Australian Air Force

 

 

Providing service from 1964 – 2009, the RAAF purchased 29 aircraft from De Havilland Canada.   The following table provides a general outline of some highlights of each aircraft during their service.

 

Click on the aircraft Tail Number in the menu at left to visit a dedicated page for each individual aircraft. Individual aircraft pages provide more information on the aircraft and pictures of that particular aircraft.  

 

References for information are given where available.

 

CARIBOU DELIVERY SCHEDULE

 

AIRCRAFT

ARRIVAL DATE

CURRENT STATUS

NOTES

A4-134

22 April 1964

Written Off

 

13 Feb 1964

Accepted from De Havilland - First Caribou for RAAF

(Call sign VH-JMA)

 

17 Mar 1964

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond

 

1 Jul 1964

Crashed short of the runway on landing at Nowra Naval Air Station, NSW

 

Last Reported

Fuselage at Bandiana RACT ARMY Museum, Victoria

 

A4-140

22 April 1964

Retired

 

24 Feb 1964

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VH-JMB)

 

17 Mar 1964

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond

 

Nov 1968

Stationed in Vietnam until Jun 1971

 

1975

Carried Red Cross markings for relief flights to Timor

 

27 Nov 2009

Retired from RAAF service and last landed in Canberra.

 

Last Reported

The aircraft was disassembled and towed to the Australian War Memorial.

 

A4-147

22 April 1964

Written Off

 

27 Feb 1964

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign ??)

 

17 Mar 1964

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond

 

6 Oct 1968

Crashed short of runway on landing - Tapini, Papua New Guinea

 

Last Reported

Utilized by 38 Squadron as Field Training Simulator/Training Aid

 

A4-152

13 June 1964

Retired

 

9 Apr 1964

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VH-JMI)

 

8 May 1964

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond

 

Oct 1967

Stationed in Vietnam until Sep 1968

 

Sep 1968

Ran off a landing strip, severely damaged, dismantled.  

Returned to Australia and later assigned to 35 Squadron.

 

Unknown

Painted white and served with the United Nations

 

26 Nov 2009

Retired from RAAF service and last landed at Point Cook.  

 

Last Reported

The aircraft is displayed at the RAAF Museum.

 

A4-159

13 June 1964

Withdrawn from service

 

13 Apr 1964

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VH-LWK)

 

8 May 1964

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond

 

Jul 1968

Stationed in Vietnam until Jun 1971

 

Unknown

Fuselage at Brisbane Airport, Queensland as a fire fighter's training aid.

 

Last Reported

The nose section of A4-159 has been bought by the Queensland Air Museum and relocated to Caloundra with A4-173.  

 

The rest of the fuselage has been sold for scrap.   

 

Parts from 159 will help with the rebuild of 173 and later down the track will end up on display itself in some form.

 

A4-164

13 June 1964

Withdrawn from service

 

Apr 1964

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VH-JMN)

 

8 May 1964

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond

 

23 Oct 1978

Damaged at Eliptamin Field, Papua New Guinea (repaired)

 

Oct 1992

Withdrawn from service.

 

Last Reported

This aircraft was initially broken down for spares in November 1992 and used as a training aid at RAAF Richmond, NSW.

 

A4-171

Post Vietnam

Written Off

 

8 Jun 1964

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VH-???)

 

1 Jul 1964

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond, this aircraft was abruptly halted at Butterworth and sent to Vietnam, arriving Aug 1964.

 

Aug 1964

Assigned to RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam (RTFV) and stationed in Vietnam until 30 Aug 1967

 

1 Jul 1966

Assigned to 35 Squadron

 

30 Aug 1967

Crashed short of the runway on landing at ???

 

Last Reported

?

 

A4-173

Post Vietnam

Withdrawn from service

 

22 Jul 1964

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VH-LWB)

 

Aug 1964

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond, this aircraft was abruptly halted at Butterworth and sent to Vietnam, arriving Aug 1964.

 

Aug 1964

Assigned to RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam (RTFV) and stationed in Vietnam until 30 Aug 1967

 

1 Jul 1966

Assigned to 35 Squadron

 

Aug 1966

Landed short and hit the lip of the runway at Ba To, Vietnam.   Repaired and stationed in Vietnam until Feb 1972

 

Unknown

Withdrawn from service and broken down for spares.

 

Last Reported

Now resides at the Queensland Air Museum in Caloundra, Queensland and is being assembled for a static display.

 

A4-179

Post Vietnam

Withdrawn from service

 

8 Jul 1964

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VH-JMD)

 

Aug 1964

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond, this aircraft was abruptly halted at Butterworth and sent to Vietnam, arriving Aug 1964.

 

Aug 1964

Assigned to RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam (RTFV)

 

1 Jul 1966

Assigned to 35 Squadron and stationed in Vietnam until Feb 1972

 

Unknown

Withdrawn from service and broken down for spares.

 

Last Reported

Used as a training aid at RAAF Richmond, NSW.

 

A4-185

Post Vietnam

Written Off

 

11 Jun 1964

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VH-???)

 

1 Jul 1964

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond, this aircraft was abruptly halted at Butterworth and sent to Vietnam, arriving Aug 1964.

 

Aug 1964

Assigned to RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam (RTFV) until 18 Nov 1964

 

18 Nov 1964

Departed runway on landing and crashed at A Ro, RVN

 

Last Reported

?

 

A4-191

Post Vietnam

Withdrawn from service

 

8 Jul 1964

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VH-JMM)

 

Aug 1964

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond, this aircraft was abruptly halted at Butterworth and sent to Vietnam, arriving Aug 1964.

 

Aug 1964

Assigned to RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam (RTFV)

 

1 Jul 1966

Assigned to 35 Squadron and stationed in Vietnam until Jun 1971

 

Unknown

Withdrawn from service and broken down for spares.

 

Last Reported

Hulk remains at RAAF Amberley

 

A4-193

Post Vietnam

Written Off

 

21 Jun 1964

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VH-JMM)

 

Aug 1964

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond, this aircraft was abruptly halted at Butterworth and sent to Vietnam, arriving Aug 1964.

 

Aug 1964

Assigned to RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam (RTFV)

 

1 Jul 1966

Assigned to 35 Squadron and stationed in Vietnam until 29 Mar 1970

 

29 Mar 1970

Destroyed on ground by mortar fire at That Son, RVN

 

Last Reported

?

 

A4-195

October 1964

To be disposed

 

31 Aug 1964

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VH-LYW)

 

Sep 1964

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond

 

Oct 1964

Assigned to 38 Squadron

 

Nov 2009

Retired from service and put into short term storage at Oakey ARMY Base, Queensland.  

 

This aircraft is awaiting disposal by public tender which closed on the 1st March 2011.

 

A4-199

October 1964

Withdrawn from service

 

16 Sep 1964

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VH-JMZ)

 

Sep 1964

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond

 

Oct 1964

Assigned to 38 Squadron

 

Unknown

Painted white and served with the United Nations

 

2000

Used in the CBS TV “Survivor” Series

 

25 Sep 2009

Emergency landing at High Range Training Area

 

18 Nov 2009

Airlifted by Chinook to RAAF Base Garbut, Townsville, Queensland

 

Nov 2009

To be displayed at RAAF Base Garbut, Townsville, Queensland.

 

A4-202

October 1964

Written Off

 

21 Sep 1964

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VH-???)

 

Sep 1964

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond

 

Dec 1964

Assigned to 38 Squadron

 

6 Mar 1965

Hit rising ground during attempted overshoot and crashed

 

Last Reported

?

 

A4-204

December 1964

To be disposed

 

26 Oct 1964

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VH-JMT)

 

Nov 1964

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond

 

Dec 1964

Assigned to 38 Squadron

 

Nov 2009

Retired from service this aircraft was dismantled by Australian Aerospace and the fuselage is stored at Eagle Farm airport in Brisbane Queensland, with the tail and outer wings stored at Meeandah, Queensland.   

 

This aircraft is awaiting disposal by public tender which closed on the 1st March 2011.

 

A4-208

December 1964

To be disposed

 

30 Oct 1964

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VH-JMG)

 

Nov 1964

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond

 

Dec 1964

Assigned to 38 Squadron

 

Jun 1965

Stationed in Vietnam until Feb 1972

 

Unknown

Retired from service, this aircraft was put into short term storage at Oakey ARMY Base, Queensland.  

 

This aircraft is awaiting disposal by public tender which closed on the 1st March 2011.

 

A4-210

December 1964

To be disposed

 

6 Nov 1964

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VH-JMU)

 

Nov 1964

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond

 

Dec 1964

Assigned to 38 Squadron

 

Jun 1965

Stationed in Vietnam until Aug 1968

 

Aug 1967

Severely damaged at Dalat, RVN while taxying

 

Nov 2009

Retired from service, this aircraft was put into short term storage at Oakey ARMY Base, Queensland.  

 

This aircraft is awaiting disposal by restricted tender which closed on the 1st March 2011.

 

Tender won by Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS)

Congratulations guys.  We know you will look after A4-210.

 

A4-225

June 1965

To be disposed

 

28 May 1965

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VH-JMA)

 

11 Jun 1965

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond

 

25 Jun 1965

Assigned to 38 Squadron

 

Nov 2009

Retired from service, this aircraft was put into short term storage at Oakey ARMY Base, Queensland.

 

This aircraft is awaiting disposal by public tender which closed on the 1st March 2011.

 

A4-228

June 1965

To be disposed

 

28 May 1965

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VH-JME)

 

11 Jun 1965

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond

 

25 Jun 1965

Assigned to 38 Squadron

 

Oct 2009

Retired from service, this aircraft was put into short term storage at Oakey ARMY Base, Queensland.  

 

This aircraft is awaiting disposal by public tender which closed on the 1st March 2011.

 

A4-231

June 1965

To be disposed

 

1 Jun 1965

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VM-JMK)

 

11 Jun 1965

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond

 

25 Jun 1965

Assigned to 38 Squadron

 

Oct 2009

Retired from service, this aircraft was put into short term storage at Oakey ARMY Base, Queensland.  

 

This aircraft is awaiting disposal by public tender which closed on the 1st March 2011.

 

A4-233

21 August 1965

Written Off

 

7 Dec 1965

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VH-???)

 

6 Aug 1965

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond

 

21 Aug 1965

Assigned to 38 Squadron

 

28 Aug 1972

Crashed into the ridge of a valley in poor weather

    

Last Reported

?

 

A4-234

21 August 1965

To be disposed

 

7 Dec 1965

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VH-LWH)

 

6 Aug 1965

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond

 

21 Aug 1965

Assigned to 38 Squadron

 

May 1970

Stationed in Vietnam until Feb 1972

 

Oct 2009

Retired from service, this aircraft was put into short term storage at Oakey ARMY Base, Queensland. 

 

This aircraft is awaiting disposal by restricted tender which closed on the 1st March 2011.

 

Tender won by Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS)

Congratulations guys.  We know you will look after A4-234.

 

A4-235

21 August 1965

Withdrawn from service

 

7 Dec 1965

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VH-JMV)

 

6 Aug 1965

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond

 

21 Aug 1965

Assigned to 38 Squadron

 

Early 1990’s

Painted white for UN operations in Cambodia

 

23 Nov 1991

Over ran strip at Scott’s Peak during STOL Training.   Nose wheel collapsed when aircraft entered creek at the end of the strip.

 

Unknown

Withdrawn from service and broken down for parts.

 

Last Reported

Hulk remains at RAAF Amberley

 

A4-236

21 August 1965

Retired

 

7 Dec 1965

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VH-JMF)

 

6 Aug 1965

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond

 

21 Aug 1965

Assigned to 38 Squadron

 

1994

Tail painted with commemorative Logo for 30 years of Caribou service

 

Oct 2009

Retired from service, this aircraft remains at RAAF Amberley awaiting display.

 

A4-264

June 1968

Written Off

 

31 May 1968

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VH-JMQ)

 

Jun 1968

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond

 

Jun 1968

Assigned to 38 Squadron

 

1971

Stationed  with 38 Squadron “DET A in Papua New Guinea

 

20 Jul 1971

Over ran strip at Tufi.   Aircraft repaired and returned to service

 

4 Jul 1986

Crashed attempting an overshoot on landing at Camden, NSW

 

Last Reported

At RAAF Richmond as a training aid.

 

A4-275

August 1969

To be disposed

 

31 Jul 1969

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VH-JMW)

 

Aug 1969

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond

 

Aug 1969

Assigned to 38 Squadron

 

Oct 2009

Retired from service, this aircraft was put into short term storage at Oakey ARMY Base, Queensland.  

 

This aircraft is awaiting disposal by public tender which closed on the 1st March 2011.

 

A4-285

December 1969

Written Off

 

1 Dec 1969

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VH-JMJ)

 

1 Dec 1969

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond

 

25 Dec 1969

Assigned to 38 Squadron

 

Aug 2008

Suffered severe damage to Left Wing and upper fuselage

 

Last Reported

Nose section on display at RAAF Amberley Museum

 

A4-299

June 1971

To be disposed

 

14 May 1971

Accepted from De Havilland

(Call sign VH-JMP) 

Last aircraft delivered to the RAAF

 

Jun 1971

Departed Toronto for RAAF Richmond

 

Jun 1971

Assigned to 38 Squadron

 

Oct 2009

Retired from service, this aircraft was put into short term storage at Oakey ARMY Base, Queensland.  

 

This aircraft is awaiting disposal by public tender which closed on the 1st March 2011.