RAAF 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 |
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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|
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Withdrawn from service |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.
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|
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.
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|
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 ?
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|
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.
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|
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.
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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 ?
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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
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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 ?
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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.
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|
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.
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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 ?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 ?
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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