CA-15 “Kangaroo” 76 Squadron, 1950After successfully transforming the Wirraway into an emergency fighter in 1942 known as the Boomerang, Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation under designer Fred David (an Austrian Jew who had also designed aircraft in Japan before the war) began work on what was to be the CAC 15, a purposed designed interceptor. The Boomerang had suffered because of the choice of engine, which lacking a turbocharger did not supply sufficient power at altitude. The CAC 15 was to fix that. David, impressed by reports of the Fw190 from overseas had originally planned to use a radial engine. However, a shortage of such powerful engines because of the war situation had forced CAC to turn to the inline Griffon engine instead.
The Griffon powered prototype however did not fly until 1945, just before the end of the war. It was a successful design and capable of over 448 mph. The RAAF by this time was looking more seriously at alternative designs and decided against the CAC 15, in favour of the P-51 Mustang produced under license in Australia. Jet engined aircraft were also in the offing and possessed superior climb and speed characteristics. However in 1946 100 CAC 15s were ordered as they were superior to the P-51 in climb and speed at extreme altitude.
The CA15 as it became officially known equipped three RAAF squadrons in the years 1948 until 1953. Two of those squadrons served as part of BCOFJ (British Commonwealth Occupation Forces Japan) in Japan. They also served briefly in the Korean War as part of the UN forces employed there. They were replaced by Meteor Jet Fighters in 1951. The CA15 was christened with the nickname “Kangaroo” by some wag in the press. This was never it’s official RAAF nomenclature.
The KitThe kit is a CMK resin one. It depicts an aircraft from 76 Squadron RAAF. It has taken over two years to build. It was not a happy experience with two propeller blades breaking and needing replacement. It was brush painted using Vallejo acrylics.
