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COMMEMORATIVE SERVICE
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50TH ANNIVERASRY FEB 2009
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11 SQUADRON RICHMOND
Relatives and Squadron members of the crew of 11 Squadron's - Neptune A89-308, which crashed on 4th February 1959, were invited to attend a memorial service at Richmond RAAF Base on February 4th 2009. This was the 50th anniversary of the crash which killed all crew aboard.
A stained glass window was dedicated in the Base Chapel as a memory of this tragedy.
Squadron Leader Geoffery R. Cullen, Pilot.
Squadron Leader Joseph K. McDonald, Signaller
Flight Lieutant Robert A. De-Rusett-Kydd, Navigator
Flying Officer Federick J. Wood, Signaller
Pilot Officer George I. Holmes, Co-Pilot
Pilot Officer Terence P. O'Sullivan, Signaller
Warrant Officer Vincent J.McCarthy,Signaller
Flight Sergeant John M. Rock, Navigator
The A.D.F report described the accident :
Crashed 04/02/59 onto the banks of the Hawkesbury River at Cornwallis,Richmond after a fire in the port engine nacelle, caused by the disintegration of the power recovery turbine wheel (PRT) for the engine.
The disintegration of the PRT caused the severing of fuel lines inside the wheel well, which then ignited the fuel spewing out of the lines.The ensuring fire burned fiercely and before the aircraft could enter into an emergency landing pattern the fire burned through to the wing subsequently causing the wing to fail in-flight a short time later. All crew died.
The service took place outside of the Richmond RAAF Chapel conducted by Chaplain, Wing Commander Peter Friend.
Colour and Catafalque parties were mounted by personnel of 11 Squadron.
The Guard Commander, Wing Commander Carl Green HQALG led a very impressive parade of RAAF personnel.
The ceremony was conducted in the presence of Air Vice Marshal Geoff Brown AM, Deputy Chief Of Air Force (3rd from the right ) and Air Commodore John Odie AM, CSC, Commander Air Lift Group Richmond (3rd from the left).
During the ceremony a fly over of a Neptune A89-273 reminded those gathered of the aircraft of the day in 1959.
Later at a function in the Sgts.Mess AVM Brown AM presented medallions to relatives of the crew who perished in the crash.
The fly over Neptune provided by the Historic Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) was generously opened for inspection for those that wished to do so.
HARS also provided a C-47 Dakota for the ceremony, the crews of both aircraft also attended the reception to offer their support in remembrance of the occasion.
The very impressive Memorial Window re-dedicated at this service will remain in memory to the crew of Neptune A89-308
THEY SHALL GROW NOT OLD AS WE THAT ARE LEFT GROW OLD:
AGE SHALL NOT WEARY THEM, NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN
AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
LEST WE FORGET
For any information on the Memorial Service for the loss of Neptune A89-308 please contact WOFF Geoff Banning, WOD Richmond RAAF Base via email at :
Geoff.Banning@defence.gov.au
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