Squadron Leader Collette Amos, of RAAF Base Pearce, joined fellow Air Force personnel at a ceremony to dedicate a plaque at the site where a Dakota aircraft crashed in 1961, killing four crew members.

MORE than forty years after a DC3 Dakota crashed on a property in Western Australia, personnel from RAAF Base Pearce have returned to the site, supported by Aerospace Systems Management Pty Ltd, to dedicate a memorial plaque.

The crash site, on a property near RAAF Base Pearce, still bears evidence of the aircraft crash, which occurred on July 31, 1961, and claimed the lives of four crew members.

Remarkably, three crew members survived the impact.
The aircrew and aircraft had been involved in the calibration of a number of tracking stations around Australia associated with the NASA Mercury Space Program.

"The crash of this aircraft was an historic event as we lost four Australians in our commitment to manned space travel," Aerospace Systems Management Director Grahame Higgs said.

"It is important that we have an appropriate memorial in recognition of their contribution to Australia's space exploration."

A survivor of the crash, Perth resident Warrant Officer Bill Miles (ret'd) was present at the ceremony and took part in the service by unveiling the plaque.

He was joined by his family, fellow survivor Neil McBain, relatives of other crew members, members of the local community, personnel from RAAF Base Pearce and Air Force Association president lan Stewart.

It was the first time Mr Miles had seen Mr McBain since 1962 and it was an emotional time for all concerned.

"It will give me a chance to properly say goodbye and end that chapter of my life," Mr Miles said.

The dedication ceremony was conducted by Air Force Chaplain Dean Griffiths and included a ceremonial Catafalque Party and a flypast by four PC9 aircraft from No. 2 Flying Training School at RAAF Base Pearce.

By FLGOFF Harriet Pointon