COMMONWEALTH BOOMERANG - Single-seat 'stop-gap' fighter initiated late 1941 to make good RAAF's foreseen lack of imported fighters of better performance. Design based on using components of Wirraway trainer, combined with 1,200 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S3C4-G radial engine and two-speed supercharger. Initial five CA-12 aircraft built early 1942, followed by first production batch of 100 ordered February 1942. First CA-12 flown May 29, 1942, and deliveries began July 1942. Further production comprised 95 CA-13, delivered from August 1943, 49 CA-19, delivered from May 1944, and single CA-14, making total of 250 by early 1945. Differences between variants minor. Armament comprised eight 0.303-in (7.7-mm) Browning guns in first five CA-12s, changed to four Brownings with two 20-mm Hispano cannon in production aircraft. CA-13s had metal (instead of fabric) covered ailerons and CA-19s had single F.24 camera in rear fuselage for tac-R role. Single CA-14 had General Electric B-2 turbo-supercharger in rear starboard fuselage side and R-1830-S1C3-G engine; it first flew on January 13, 1943. Boomerangs entered service at 2 OTU late 1942, and flew operationally with Nos 4, 5, 83, 84 and 85 Sqns. Of these, Nos 4, 5 and 84 saw service against Japanese forces in New Guinea and Borneo; other two squadrons remained in Australia.

Max speed, 305 mph (491 km/h) at 15,500 ft (4,724 m). Cruising speed, 190 mph (305 km/h) at 15,000 ft (4,572 m). Rate of climb, 2,940 ftlmin (14.9 mlsec). Time to 25,000ft (7,620 m), 13.2 min. Service ceiling, 34,000 ft (10,363 m). Range (internal fuel), 930 mis (1,496 km). Range (drop tank), 1,600 mis (2,575 km). Empty weight, 5,373 Ib (2,437kg). Gross weight, 7,699 Ib (3,492 kg). Max overload, 8,249 Ib (3,742 kg). Span, 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m). Length, 25 ft 6 in (7.77 m). Wing area, 225 sqfi (20.90 m2).