DHC Caribou

The Caribou Canadian-designed and produced specialized cargo aircraft with short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability.

It proved to be a highly successful, long lived and hardy tactical airlifter, used to supply the battlefront with troops and supplies and evacuate casualties on the return journey.

Used by numerous nations, in both civil and military versions

29 were flown by RAAF between 1964 and 2009. Between August 1964 and Feb 1972 the RAAF’s Caribou command carried 700,000 passengers, and 41.3 million kg of freight and mail and flew 79,000 sorties.

The AWM’s example A4-140 was the first to land in Australia, the longest serving Caribou, and the only RAAF aircraft to be hijacked. Despite having its RAAF roundels and fin flash painted over with Red Cross roundels, an armed soldier took over the aircraft at Baucar, Timor, and demanded that 48 people be flown to Darwin. The Caribou landed safely and the soldier was arrested. Used by 38 Sqn during Flood relief operations in NSW 24/04/90 to 01/05/90. Also served in Timor and Bougainville.