The Boomerang was the first combat aircraft designed and constructed in Australia and although not a match for some of its contemporary fighter aircraft, it proved effective in the ground attack role. Like many of the 250 built, this aircraft equipped home defence squadrons from early 1943 and post-war was saved from scrapping by use in a film. It was then left derelict for nearly two decades before being placed on the gate at RAAF Williamtown in 1967 painted silver. After a period at the Australian War Memorial, the RAAF Museum restored it in 85 Sqdn marks.

Became an instructional airframe in 1944 after two years with operational training units. Photo from: State Library of South Australia

Arriving at the Jamestown Fly-In & Air Spectacular 2009

On display at the RAAF Museum. It is a tight squeeze between other aircraft in the Hangar 180

At the Barossa Airshow 2015

At the Parafield Fly-In 2013

The RAAF Museum's Boomerang saw wartime service with 2 OTU, 83 and 85 Squadrons from February 1943. In 1945 it was used in the film 'Smithy', pretending to be Kingsford Smith's Lockheed Altair VH-USB. In 1946 it was given to the Australian Air League, but was recovered and refurbished by the RAAF in 1967, and put on display at RAAF Williamtown. After a period on display at the Australian War Memorial, it came to the RAAF Museum.

At the Jamestown Fly-In & Air Spectacular 2012

Matt Denning's second, brand-new Boomerang restoration was on static display at the Wide Bay International Airshow. The aircraft is said to be the former A46-63, which crashed at Cape York, Qld, on 24 August 1943 after only 4 months service with 84 Squadron. The restoration included the addition of a second seat, although you wouldn't really know it to look at. The first post-restoraton flight was at Caboolture on 26 June 2009, a week before this photo was taken.

The survival of A46-54 is remarkable because its stripped airframe was sold for scrap in 1955. About 1973 the fuselage frame was purchased by Les Arthur who had an aviation museum on his property at Wellcamp, near Toowoomba. Not long after the photo it was acquired by Greg Batts and became a long-term restoration project. In 2001 it was registered VH-MHB but it was still a long way from completion. New wings were mated to the restored fuselage in 2017.