Kookaburra departed Richmond, New South Wales, on 10 April and headed for the north of Western Australia via Broken Hill, Maree, Oodnadatta and Alice Springs.

Kookaburra was forced to land in the Tanami Desert when the push rod on a valve on number two cylinder loosened, causing a loss of power.

After a public outcry for leaving the men in the desert, a second expedition with a Thornycroft truck returned to the site and exhumed the bodies.

Australian businessman, pilot and adventurer Dick Smith mounted an expedition in 1977 to find the Kookaburra but was unsuccessful.

[2][3] The remains of Kookaburra were moved to a public display at Alice Springs Airport and are currently at the Central Australian Aviation Museum.