Air Force mourns tragic deaths

The Air Force community is in mourning following the recent deaths of two personnel in a plane crash near Williamtown Airport.

Flight Lieutenant Euan Duncan, 39, and Flying Officer Luke Morrall, 23, died instantly when the vintage biplane they were flying ploughed into bushland near the airport at about 3.30pm on Saturday, 16 February.

Witnesses to the crash told the Newcastle Herald that the wing of the 1947 World War II Tiger Moth appeared to buckle before the plane spiralled to the ground about 1km south of the airport.

Bureau of Air Safety officers, along with police and Emergency Services personnel, attended the crash scene the following day to determine the cause of the accident.

The two victims were members of a civilian flight organisation, the RAAF Williamtown Flying Club. Both men had been at RAAF Base Williamtown for about six months.

FLGOFF Morrall, of Canberra, is the son of former Group Captain Phil Morrall. He joined the RAAF in 1998 after completing a chemistry degree at the Australian National University.

FLTLT Duncan, who was born in Scotland, joined the RAAF in 1980. He became an Australian citizen this year at a ceremony held in Newcastle on Australia Day.

In 1997, FLTLT Duncan was presented with the RADAR People of the Year Award for his part in rescuing 15 injured climbers on Mt Everest.