Woomera Warriors

These photo’s were taken in the early 1960’s at the Woomera Rocket Range by Mr Clive Lynch, an RAAF photographer attached to the Weapons Research Establishment.

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Bristol Freighter Mk21E A81-4 seen at RAAF Edinburgh in October 1962. The Freighters were used to transport Jindivik target drones from the Government Aircraft Factory in Melbourne to Woomera. This aircraft joined the RAAF in 1951 and was operated by No.34 Squadron. The photo represents a bit of a mystery. According to records A81-4 was withdrawn from service in 1959 and scrapped and yet this image was taken in 1962 according to Clive Lynch’s records. It would appear the aircraft was stored at Edinburgh for some years before the breakers axe fell.
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A selection of Woomera aircraft assembled for a unit photograph. Included are a Canberra U.10 and Meteor U.15, Sycamore A91-1, Dakota KJ881 and Meteor NF.11 WM372. Meteor NF.11 WM372 came to Australia in 1954 and was used at Woomera for trials of the Fairey Fireflash missile. It was struck off charge in 1960 and scrapped. Royal Air Force Douglas Dakota KJ881 was specially modified for trials work. The windscreen was deepened considerably to allow for better observation. It was operated from Woomera from 1954 by the Department of Supply. In 1968 it was sold to Harry Wallace at Moorabbin Airport who on sold the aircraft to Jetairlines of Australia. In 1971 the Dakota was sold to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and was transferred by the Australian Government to the Royal Laotian Air Force. It’s ultimate fate is unknown.
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Seen in March 1962 are Meteor U.15, VZ401; Meteor T7, A77-705 and Meteor U.15, VT113. Note the variations in the colour schemes of these aircraft. The Canberra U10 is, possibly, the aircraft that suffered a catastrophic failure of its remote control system on takeoff. The aircraft climb steepened so much that it flipped onto its back and slammed into the runway exploding in a ball of flame. Not only was the event captured on film it took place in front of a group of dignitaries invited to view what, was supposed, to be a faultless demonstration of pilotless flight.
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Gloster Meteor U.15, VT130 displaying it’s scoreboard on the nose. Each boomerang denotes a successful drone flight. Little is known of the service history of this aircraft except that it was written off in March 1960. Whether this was the result of a mishap or a shoot down is not recorded.
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One of two Bristol Sycamore helicopters to serve with the RAAF; A91-1 served almost exclusively at Woomera. It was used as a communications aircraft for the British atom bomb tests at Emu Claypan. In 1965 it was sold to Jayrow Helicopters at Moorabbin Airport and was severely damaged in an accident at Falls Creek in 1967 after which it was donated to the Moorabbin Air Museum. It was rebuilt over several years and remains on display at Moorabbin today.
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Gloster Meteor U.15 VT130 fitted with AMPOR pods on the wingtips and guards over the engine intakes. The guards were to prevent ground personnel from being sucked into the engine intakes during ground running. The AMPOR pods contained movie cameras that captured the flight of the missile up to the point of impact with the drone. The pods were designed to be jettisoned upon missile impact and parachuted to earth where the cameras could be retrieved and the film processed for analysis.
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DeHavilland Sea Vixen XJ476 originally served with the RAF and RN trials unit at Boscombe Down. In 1960 it was shipped to Australia in a crate marked “Elephant Incubator”. It was used for Red Top missile trials at Woomera before returning to Britain in 1963; whereupon it was employed in Martel missile trials. The cockpit section of this aircraft survives and is on display at the Boscombe Down Museum.
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Gloster Meteor T7 A77-705 on the tarmac at Evetts Field. This Meteor joined the RAAF in 1955 and was still airworthy and operating at Woomera in 1975 when it was retired and flown to the RAAF Museum where it remains today. The aircraft was probably used as a hack and for communications duties.
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Two of the aircraft that formed part of the Woomera Range Air Taxi Service. DeHavilland Canada Beaver A95-204 joined the RAAF in 1959 and operated out of Woomera for a short period before it became part of the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition. During 1961 the Beaver was retired and acquired by a civilian owner and carried several civilian registrations. It’s current status is unknown.

DeHavilland Canada Otter A100-390 was operated by No.1 Air Trials Unit between 1961 and 1967 and while with No1 ATU it was briefly used as an air taxi at Woomera. During 1967 it was sold to Short Brothers but continued to operate from Woomera in a civil guise until 1980. It was eventually exported to Canada where, as far as is known, it still flies..