THE HON. GREG COMBET MP
Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
108/2009
CARIBOU RETIRES TO RAAF MUSEUM
What:
Caribou A4-152 to be received by RAAF Museum
Where:
RAAF Museum at RAAF Base Williams (Point Cook)
When:
Thursday, 26 November 2009, 1.00pm
A4-152 has accumulated 20,360 flying hours, and was delivered to RAAF
Richmond on 13 June, 1964
with two others. The oldest, A4-140, is being
handed over to the Australian War Memorial
on Friday. The Caribous were
the first RAAF aircraft deployed to Vietnam and the last to withdraw. A4-152
served in Vietnam October 1967 to September 1968. It was severely
damaged in an accident in Vietnam and was shipped home for repairs to
Bankstown. Its operations after repair included in Sumatra in 1971, with the
UN in 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978 and
survey flights in West Irian in 1976.
The aircraft served on humanitarian support missions in the Solomons in 1980
and 2003 and on peacekeeping missions in East Timor in 1999.
Media note: After landing the aircraft is expected to taxi through a water
spray provided by a local CFA fire truck on the tarmac near the Museum flight
line building. The aircraft will stop in front of the bleachers used by public
visitors during Museum interactive days.
Interested media are requested to come to the Point Cook
main gate at
12.30pm for escort to the venue.
The aircraft will officially be handed over by its captain, No 38 Squadron
Executive Officer, Squadron Leader Victoria Rookyard, when she hands the
Director, RAAF Museum, Mr David Gardner, its logbook.
Media contacts:
Rod Hilton (Greg Combet):
02 6277 7820 or 0458 276 619
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664