CAC CA-12 Boomerang
Cockpit, Engine and Fuselage Details

by Brett Green

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Australia was in a desperate situation in December 1941.

The British Empire in the Far East was crumbling under the advance of the Japanese Army and Navy, and the United States was still reeling after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The cream of Australian soldiers and airmen were in the Middle East and the United Kingdom. There was no effective air defence against the southward bound Japanese, and no guarantee that supplies of fighter aircraft would be forthcoming from either Britain or the United States.

The decision was therefore taken to design and build a home-grown "stop-gap" fighter that would utilise as many components of the Wirraway trainer as possible, mated to a 1200HP Pratt & Whitney Twin Row Wasp engine. Remarkably, the new aircraft made the journey from concept to first flight in 22 weeks. The Boomerang was born.

In the event, the Boomerang was not used as a fighter/interceptor. That honour fell to Kittyhawks and, later, Spitfires. However, the Boomerang proved its worth in the role of communications and liaison, as well as close-support duties.

The Boomerang at Moorabin Air Museum was delivered in January 1943 and served with No 83 Squadron RAAF.

These photographs were taken in March, 2000.

 

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Text & Images Copyright © 2003 by Brett Green
Page Created 25 April, 2003
Last Updated 19 April, 2004

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