Collision of two Boomerangs at Gove Airfield in the Northern Territory on 20 November 1943

Boomerang A46-146 (MH-Z) of 83 Squadron RAAF piloted by Flight Lieutenant Richard Tweedy Holt (404103) was over-run by No. 2 aircraft in their formation, Boomerang A46-100 (MH-T) piloted by Sgt. Leslie Edward Johnson (417958), when they landed line astern at Gove Airfield in the Northern Territory on 20 November 1943. After the collision, Boomerang A46-100 groundlooped and its landing gear collapsed.

ADF Serials web site states that A46-47 was cannibalised to repair A46-100 and A46-146. However Matthew Denning's research shows that the repair crew in attendance after the collision between A46-100 and A46-146 used the undamaged tail components from A46-100 to repair the damage on A46-146 to allow A46-146 to continue flying. The photo below of A46-100 at 7RSU Pell, shows the missing tail parts which supports Matthew's research.

Colin and Chris Goon contacted me on 28 July 1999 and advised they were certain that the fellow standing second from the right with his hands on his hips in the above photo was their father, Roy Goon. Their father was based at Townsville and when he became Squadron Leader and had his own Boomerang Registration MH-G which were their Mother's initials. They advised that Roy Goon was "Bluey" Truscott's instructor. He was mentioned in the book Bluey Truscott - they could not remember the author. They said that Roy Goon had a Boomerang squadron No ? at Exmouth (Potshot area). See Note below.

Note:- Matthew Denning offered a correction about Chris Goon's comment about the aircraft that Roy Goon mostly flew at Gove and Millingimbi during 1944. Matt said that it was actually CA-13 Boomerang A46-114 with code letters MH-M (and with a BAR above the M) that Roy mostly flew between the 5 May and the 14 August 1944. Matt has only found evidence that A46-164 was coded MH-G, and there are no references in Roy's log book to him having ever flown A46-164.

I'd like to than Matthew Denning, and Colin and Chris Goon for their assistance with this web page.

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