Skip to main content
Home

Our Journey

  • Aircraft Production and Development
  • Operational Aircraft
  • Vietnam War
  • RAAF firsts
  • Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief
  • RAAF Base Richmond
  • RAAF Base Butterworth
  • (-) Caribou
  • Iroquois
Reset
  • 1960-1969
  • 1970-1979
  • 2000-2009

The origins of the Royal Australian Air Force extend back to the early days of aviation, and we have made important contributions to defence and peacekeeping initiatives across the globe ever since.

1960-1969

 

Introduction of the Caribou 

Farewell Air Force’s Telstars 

Introduction of the P-3B Orion

RAAF arrives in Vietnam

Missing Dakota A65-81 is found
Display Date
22 Apr 1964

Introduction of the Caribou

Three DHC-4 Caribou Mk 1 light transports arrived at RAAF Base Richmond on delivery from the De Havilland Aircraft Company of Canada.

Seven Caribous lined up on the hard stand
22 Apr 1964

Introduction of the Caribou

Three DHC-4 Caribou Mk 1 light transports arrived at RAAF Base Richmond on delivery from the De Havilland Aircraft Company of Canada factory at Downsview in Toronto, Ontario. The Australian Government had placed an order for 18 of these aircraft in May 1963, the intention being to completely re-equip No 38 Squadron (then operating C-47/DC-3 Dakotas) by December 1964. A second consignment of three Caribous was similarly received in June, following a route across the Atlantic to Europe and through the Red Sea, but then the third and fourth batches were diverted to Vietnam instead. In September, seven more Caribous were ordered––six to enable the re-equipment program to continue, plus another to replace one wrecked in a landing accident in July. Eventually a total of 29 airframes of this type joined the RAAF.

Video & Images

1 of
Seven Caribous lined up on the hard stand
Seven Caribous lined up on the hard stand
Display Date
08 Aug 1964

RAAF arrives in Vietnam

Three DHC-4 Caribou Mk 1 transports arrived at Vung Tau, marking the start of an Air Force presence during the Vietnam War which would last until February 1972.

RAAF DHC4 Caribou A4-159 on the flight line at the Vung Tau airfield
08 Aug 1964

RAAF arrives in Vietnam

Three DHC-4 Caribou Mk 1 transports arrived at Vung Tau, a coastal city 60 kilometres south-east of the South Vietnamese capital, Saigon, marking the start of an Air Force presence during the Vietnam War which would last until February 1972. The aircraft were on their delivery flight from Canada when they were diverted at Butterworth, Malaysia, to equip RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam, a new unit brought into existence at Butterworth on 20 July.

Video & Images

1 of
RAAF DHC4 Caribou A4-159 on the flight line at the Vung Tau airfield
RAAF DHC4 Caribou A4-159 on the flight line at the Vung Tau airfield
Display Date
12 Jun 1966

Base Support Facilities – Saigon, South Vietnam

The main party of Base Support Flight departed from Sydney and proceeded to Saigon via Manila, to provide the domestic services (barracks, catering, motor transport, etc) and personnel administrative functions required by the growing Air Force contingent in South Vietnam.

Construction of base at Vung Tau South Vietnam
12 Jun 1966

Base Support Facilities – Saigon, South Vietnam

The main party of Base Support Flight departed from Sydney and proceeded to Saigon via Manila, to provide the domestic services (barracks, catering, motor transport, etc) and personnel administrative functions required by the growing Air Force contingent in South Vietnam. Until this point, the RAAF presence at Vung Tau had comprised a single flight of Caribou transports, but the arrival of a second flying squadron - No 9 Squadron operating Iroquois helicopters - meant that the level of support provided needed to be upgraded.

Video & Images

1 of
Construction of base at Vung Tau South Vietnam
Construction of base at Vung Tau South Vietnam

1970-1979

 

F-4E Phantom arrives

F-111C arrives at Amberley

Cyclone Tracy

Caribou hijacked

WRAAF disbanded - personnel join RAAF

 

Caribou in Red Cross markings for service in Portugese Timor, 1975
Display Date
04 Sep 1976

Hijacking of an Air Force DHC-4 Caribou

After civil war erupted in Portuguese Timor (East Timor) in August 1975, a DHC-4 Caribou (A4-140) was sent from No 38 Squadron to fly Red Cross personnel and supplies from Darwin.

Hijacking of a Air Force DHC-4 Caribou
04 Sep 1976

Hijacking of an Air Force DHC-4 Caribou

After civil war erupted in Portuguese Timor (East Timor) in August 1975, a DHC-4 Caribou (A4-140) was sent from No 38 Squadron to fly Red Cross personnel and supplies from Darwin. The aircraft was frequently used to shuttle refugees back to Darwin, until the Australia Government stopped the practice. When troops of the Timorese Democratic Union (UDT) heard that evacuation flights had been halted, they panicked and took over the aircraft. The crew was forced at gunpoint to take off with 54 people crammed on board the Caribou, instead of the maximum of 28 it was designed to carry. The aircraft wallowed towards Darwin at just 90 knots at an altitude of 1500 feet (457 metres), and when it landed had just 10 minutes fuel remaining. The soldiers surrendered peacefully, but A4-140 had become the first RAAF aircraft ever hijacked.

Video & Images

1 of
Hijacking of a Air Force DHC-4 Caribou
Hijacking of a Air Force DHC-4 Caribou

2000-2009

Air Force begins commitment to the Middle East Area of Operations 

Major role in support of the aftermath of the Bali bombings and tsunamis  

Operation SLIPPER

Air Vice-Marshal Julie Hammer - first female two star for Australian Defence Force

Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston, AK, AC, AFC, serves as the Chief of Defence Force

tallil-return.png
Display Date
27 Nov 2009

Farewell to the DHC-4 Caribou

The Air Force flew its last operation involving the DHC-4 Caribou light transport aircraft, 45 years after this type first entered service in Australia.

Farewell to the last Caribou
27 Nov 2009

Farewell to the DHC-4 Caribou

The Air Force flew its last operation involving the DHC-4 Caribou light transport aircraft, 45 years after this type first entered service in Australia. The final flight was carried out by Caribou A4-140 from Richmond into Canberra, where the aircraft was handed over to the Australian War Memorial for preservation.

Video & Images

1 of
Farewell to the last Caribou
Farewell to the last Caribou
Air Force 2021
Explore
  • Hangar
  • Our Journey
  • Our People
  • The Paper Pilots
  • About Us
Royal Australian Air Force
Connect
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Youtube
  • Newspaper
Copyright
  • Copyright © Royal Australian Air Force
  • Shop
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Our Journey
  • Our People
  • The Paper Pilots
  • About Us
  • My Air Force Family
Copyright
  • Shop
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy

Connect

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Youtube
  • Newspaper