HISTORIC warbirds are set to thrill the crowds at next month’s Wings on the Warrego airshow at Charleville.
The star of the show will be an Australian-built World War II fighter, painstakingly restored over four decades, as reported on-air in our LOCAL NEWS.
The CAC Boomerang A46-54, VH-MHB, is one of Australia’s most significant surviving warbirds and an example of the only Aussie-designed and built fighter aircraft to enter production during World War II. After last flying in 1945 and later being destined for scrap, the Boomerang has been brought back to life through an extraordinary restoration project led by Queensland warbird fanatic Greg Batts.
Now the Boomerang is heading west with Mr Batts joining the aircraft in Charleville for Wings on the Warrego on September 12-13.
It’s worth noting that Charleville played a pioneering role in Australian commercial aviation, with Qantas commencing its first regular scheduled service carrying mail and passengers between Charleville and Cloncurry over a century ago. Two decades later, the Charleville Aerodrome, as it was known, became an important base for American forces during WWII when many communities across northern Australia were attacked by Japanese aircraft.
That sense of history is not lost on Murweh Shire Mayor Cr Shaun Radnedge, who like many locals, is looking forward to the second weekend of September.
“Charleville hasn’t simply watched Australia’s aviation story from the sidelines, our town has been part of it for more than a century,” Cr Radnedge said.
“From the first scheduled Qantas services departing Charleville in 1922 to the vital role our aerodrome played during World War II, aviation is part of the fabric of this community.
“Four weeks from now we’ll be welcoming aircraft, pilots, aviation enthusiasts, and families from across Queensland and Australia. To see these remarkable aircraft in the skies above Charleville will be something very special.”
Bringing the Boomerang to Charleville has been made possible through the support of petroleum company Viva Energy Australia, which has partnered with Wings on the Warrego for the historic appearance.
Viva Energy Australia’s General Manager Aviation, Nick Adams, said the company was proud to help bring such a significant piece of Aussie aviation history to Outback Queensland.
“The Boomerang represents an extraordinary chapter in Australian aviation, from the ingenuity behind its original Australian design and manufacture to the skill, determination and decades of work that have brought VH-MHB back to the skies,” Mr Adams said.
“Viva Energy Australia is proud to partner with Wings on the Warrego to bring the Boomerang to Charleville and give people the opportunity to see this remarkable aircraft up close and meet the people who have helped preserve its story for future generations.”
Other planes heading to Charleville include a Boeing Stearman, Cessna 195 VH-ONF, Curtiss P-40E Kittyhawk and an MK26B Spitfire.
PHOTO: This Boomerang fighter from WWII will be the star attraction at Wings on the Warrego next month.
POSTED: Tuesday, August 18, 2026