The CAC Boomerang was a World War II-era fighter aircraft developed and produced in Australia by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation between 1942 and 1945.
Prompted by Japan’s entry into the conflict, the Boomerang was fast-tracked to fulfil the Royal Australian Air Force’s urgent need for a domestically built combat aircraft.
It holds the distinction of being the first fully Australian-designed and manufactured military fighter.
Several variants were constructed under production designations CA-12, CA-13, CA-14, and CA-19, each incorporating incremental improvements.
Despite its rugged reliability and agility at lower altitudes, the Boomerang’s performance was limited by its powerplant, which underperformed at high elevations and rendered it slower than many contemporary fighters.
Operationally, the Boomerang saw limited air-to-air combat. Initially assigned to home defence units, it freed up more capable fighters for deployment abroad.
Later in the war, it found a niche as a close air support platform, working alongside Allied ground forces, and was also employed in roles such as reconnaissance and air-sea rescue.
