Recently another little known CAC Boomerang survivor has come into the ownership of well-known Boomerang restorer Ian Baker of Sydney NSW. The aircraft is a CA-13 C/N 963 RAAF serial A46-140. The Boomerang was delivered by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation to the RAAF on 19 September 1943 and was issued to RAAF 83Sqn on 31.10.1943 and spent its entire service life with that unit until on 17 January 1944 when it suffered a burst port tyre on landing at Pell airfield, Northern Territory (NT) and was substantially damaged. Pell Airfield was an airfield southeast of Batchelor Airfield, near the Stuart Highway in Northern Territory. The aircraft then passed on to 7 Repair and Salvage Unit (RSU) and was written off and subsequently converted to components by 14 Aircraft Repair Depot (ARD).
Photographs from the 1960s depict the airframe in Les Arthur’s aircraft storage yard in Queensland, but it is not known where it spent most of its time from then until Ian acquired the frame from the USA.
As regular readers will know, Ian is in the process of restoring CAC CA-12 Boomerangs, A46-89 and A46-90 to airworthy condition and we reported on their progress in March this year. Ian has a considerable amount of Boomerang restoration work on hand and has decided to sell A46-140 as a project.
The aircraft comes complete with a package of parts suitable for restoration to static or flying condition and he can supply whatever is required including ‘New Build’ wings. Alternatively the aircraft can be completed to the purchaser’s specification. For further information please contact Ian Baker at sales@advancedaero.com.
© John Parker 2015