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ADF-SERIALS
Australian, New Zealand & Papua New Guinea
Military Aircraft Serials & History
 This site is devoted to providing as complete a record as possible of aircraft operated by the ADF, NZDF & PNGDF.
Included where known are brief summaries of the history and current status of aircraft employed in Australian New Zealand & PNG Military Service.

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RAAF A23 Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation 

CA-4 Wackett Bomber & CA-11 Woomera Bomber

 

Woomera A23-1001 (AC0150)
     
 

CA-4 Wackett Bomber and CA-11 Woomera Bomber Image Gallery

  
     
RAAF.Serial Aircraft.Type C/N Aircraft History
A23-1001 CA-4 Wackett Bomber 435 19/09/1941 First flight was carried out by Flt. Lt Hubert Boss-Walker,
20/04/1942 Received at 1 AD ex CAC, and handed over to the RAAF,
04/08/1942 Received at 1 AD ex CAC Completed ready for delivery,
12/11/1942 Taxying accident: During a flight to show the CA-4 to the prime minister and other defence officials, the undercarriage failed and a wheels up landing was made. The machine stopped in 100 yards with no structural damage, and only minor damage to the engines. It was removed from the strip by lifting it onto its undamaged undercarriage and towing it away. Repairs only took two days, and inspection revealed that the failure had been caused by an act of sabotage.
22/12/1942 Issued to CAC,
 24/12/1942 Allotted to CAC ex 1 AD,
Military trials continued with emphasis on dive-bombing aspects.
16/01/43 The aircraft suffered a fuel leak in the port engine followed by an explosion and uncontrollable fire:
The aircraft was on a test flight to assess powerplant performance and evaluate aerodynamic effects of a new fixed leading edge slat. During the return to the CAC airfield at Fisherman's Bend, the pilot, Squadron Leader James "Jim" Herbert Harper, had detected a fuel leak in the port Pratt & Whitney R-1830 engine. As the problem worsened he attempted to shut down the engine, and feathered the propeller. However, the actuation of the feathering switch caused an explosion and uncontrollable fire. The three man crew subsequently attempted evacuation at 1,000 feet (300 m), but only Harper succeeded in escaping the aircraft via parachute. The CAC test pilot James "Jim" Ogilvie Carter and power plant group engineer Lionel Adrian Dudgeon were both killed. The airframe subsequently impacted 3 miles (4.8 km) south-west of Kilmore, Victoria. The aircraft crashed in close proximity to Mr. Tom Coman's residence, and did some damage to an outbuilding. The Kilmore Bush Fire Brigade was called out to quell a grass fire caused by the burning plane. The wreckage was recovered by 26 RSU.
18/01/1943 26 RSU to collect and deliver to 1 AD,
 19/01/1943 Received 1AD ex CAC,
 26/02/1943 Approval given for conversion to components.

RAAF Form E/E.88 Aircraft Status Card Highlight for Album: CA-4 Wackett Bomber A23-1001
A23-1 CA-11 Woomera Bomber 1225 Initially fitted with two 1200 hp Pratt and Whitney R1830 Twin Wasp engines
Later fitted with two 1,300 hp Pratt and Whitney R2000 Wasps and re-designed CA-11A.
22/11/1944 Received 1 AD ex CAC,
After exhaustive CAC trials, the CA-11A was transferred to the RAAF on 22/11/1944, but by this time American bombers were in plentiful supply and further production of the Woomera was discontinued in favour of the Mustang fighter.
24/11/1944 Allotted, Issued and Received 1 APU ex 1 AD,
27/11/1945 Allotted 1 CRD ex 1 APU for storage,
13/12/1945 Issued 1 CRD ex 1 APU,
 20/12/1945 Received 1 CRD ex 1 APU for storage,
11/01/1946 Requested approval of the conversion of Woomera aircraft (to components).
 16/01/1946 Approval given to convert to components.

  RAAF Form E/E.88 Aircraft Status Card Highlight for Album: CA-11 Woomera Bomber A23-1
A23-2 CA-11A Woomera 1226 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-3 CA-11A Woomera 1227 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-4 CA-11A Woomera 1228 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-5 CA-11A Woomera 1229 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-6 CA-11A Woomera 1230 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-7 CA-11A Woomera 1231 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-8 CA-11A Woomera 1232 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-9 CA-11A Woomera 1233 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-10 CA-11A Woomera 1234 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-11 CA-11A Woomera 1235 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-12 CA-11A Woomera 1236 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-13 CA-11A Woomera 1237 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-14 CA-11A Woomera 1238 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-15 CA-11A Woomera 1239 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-16 CA-11A Woomera 1240 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-17 CA-11A Woomera 1241 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-18 CA-11A Woomera 1242 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-19 CA-11A Woomera 1243 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-20 CA-11A Woomera 1244 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-21 CA-11A Woomera 1245 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-22 CA-11A Woomera 1246 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-23 CA-11A Woomera 1247 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-24 CA-11A Woomera 1248 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-25 CA-11A Woomera 1249 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-26 CA-11A Woomera 1250 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-27 CA-11A Woomera 1251 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-28 CA-11A Woomera 1252 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-29 CA-11A Woomera 1253 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-30 CA-11A Woomera 1254 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-31 CA-11A Woomera 1255 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-32 CA-11A Woomera 1256 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-33 CA-11A Woomera 1257 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-34 CA-11A Woomera 1258 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-35 CA-11A Woomera 1259 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-36 CA-11A Woomera 1260 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-37 CA-11A Woomera 1261 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-38 CA-11A Woomera 1262 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-39 CA-11A Woomera 1263 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-40 CA-11A Woomera 1264 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-41 CA-11A Woomera 1265 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-42 CA-11A Woomera 1266 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-43 CA-11A Woomera 1267 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-44 CA-11A Woomera 1268 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-45 CA-11A Woomera 1269 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-46 CA-11A Woomera 1270 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-47 CA-11A Woomera 1271 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-48 CA-11A Woomera 1272 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-49 CA-11A Woomera 1273 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-50 CA-11A Woomera 1274 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-51 CA-11A Woomera 1275 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-52 CA-11A Woomera 1276 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-53 CA-11A Woomera 1277 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-54 CA-11A Woomera 1278 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-55 CA-11A Woomera 1279 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-56 CA-11A Woomera 1280 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-57 CA-11A Woomera 1281 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-58 CA-11A Woomera 1282 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-59 CA-11A Woomera 1283 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-60 CA-11A Woomera 1284 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-61 CA-11A Woomera 1285 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-62 CA-11A Woomera 1286 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-63 CA-11A Woomera 1287 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-64 CA-11A Woomera 1288 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-65 CA-11A Woomera 1289 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-66 CA-11A Woomera 1290 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-67 CA-11A Woomera 1291 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-68 CA-11A Woomera 1292 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-69 CA-11A Woomera 1293 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-70 CA-11A Woomera 1294 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-71 CA-11A Woomera 1295 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-72 CA-11A Woomera 1296 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-73 CA-11A Woomera 1297 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-74 CA-11A Woomera 1298 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-75 CA-11A Woomera 1299 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-76 CA-11A Woomera 1300 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-77 CA-11A Woomera 1301 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-78 CA-11A Woomera 1302 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-79 CA-11A Woomera 1303 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-80 CA-11A Woomera 1304 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-81 CA-11A Woomera 1305 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-82 CA-11A Woomera 1306 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-83 CA-11A Woomera 1307 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-84 CA-11A Woomera 1308 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-85 CA-11A Woomera 1309 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-86 CA-11A Woomera 1310 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-87 CA-11A Woomera 1311 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-88 CA-11A Woomera 1312 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-89 CA-11A Woomera 1313 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-90 CA-11A Woomera 1314 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-91 CA-11A Woomera 1315 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-92 CA-11A Woomera 1316 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-93 CA-11A Woomera 1317 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-94 CA-11A Woomera 1318 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-95 CA-11A Woomera 1319 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-96 CA-11A Woomera 1320 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-97 CA-11A Woomera 1321 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-98 CA-11A Woomera 1322 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-99 CA-11A Woomera 1323 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-100 CA-11A Woomera 1324 Order Cancelled and not delivered.
A23-101 CA-11A Woomera 1325 Order Cancelled and not delivered.

 
 

 

  

 

 

  

The Authors of this page are Brendan Cowan and Martin Edwards

Source:  RAAF Status Cards, RAAF Museum Website, https://ozatwar.com/vic11.htm ,

Emails: Stig Jarlevk, Peter Dunn.

Converted to CMS 17th November 2025

Updated19th August 2019