Goodbye gravel truck

RAAF farewells the Caribou

When three de Havilland DHC-4A Caribous arrived at RAAF Richmond in heavy rain on the 22nd of April 1964, no-one could have reasonably predicted that these 1950s designed workhorses would still be providing sterling service to the RAAF and the nation 45 years later.

The delivery flights were a five week/100 flying hour marathon for the 38 Squadron crews – Toronto to Richmond at 145kt was never going to be quick. Many of the 600 VIPs, government and industry reps who greeted the first Caribou on that wet autumn day must have commented on the unique appearance of the aircraft and perhaps privately wondered about its utility. They need not have been concerned. Within months the brand new RAAF Caribou would be thrown into the thick of the nascent Vietnam conflict and begin the process of establishing a legend that will last well after the throaty roar of their Pratt & Whitney R-2000 radials had been silenced forever.