MEDIA ADVISORY

DPAO 163/98

Friday August 21, 1998

USMC AIRCRAFT INCIDENT AT DELAMERE RANGE

You would be aware that the Delamere Air Weapons Range Facility South West of Katherine, NT, has been declared a prohibited area following last night's USMC F/A-18 crash.

To assist media reporting of the incident, a Defence Public Affairs team has obtained Beta broadcast quality footage of a brief media statement by the United States Marine Corp VMFA 212 detachment representative, Lieutenant Colonel Alex Wilkins.

The interview, filmed at RAAF Base Tindal, is expected to be available for all media via ABC Television Darwin after 4.30pm CST this afternoon. ABC Television can be contacted on 08 8943 3285.

A stills photograph of Lieutenant Colonel Wilkins will be available on request, after 4.30pm AEST this afternoon via Defence's Electronic Media Unit in Canberra, on 02 6266 6989 or after hours on 0418 633025

No further information is available at this time.

Further Information:
Lieutenant Mark Croxford 02 6265 1164 (w)
or
Lieutenant Jo Bastian 08 8935 8323 (w)