Island tribute for lost two

By SGT Daryl Lee
Volume 48, No. 8, May 18, 2006

TWO Air Force members who died when their F-111 crashed into an island off Malaysia seven years ago were remembered in a special ceremony in March.

Eight 324 Combat Support Squadron personnel from RMAF Butterworth, Malaysia, travelled to the island of Pulau Aur where the two men lost their lives.

On the night of April 18, 1999, SQNLDR Anthony ‘Shorty’ Short and SQNLDR Stephen ‘Nige’ Hobbs of 6SQN died in the crash of F-111G A8-291 when their aircraft impacted into the island.

The island of Pulau Aur lies 75kms off the east coast of Malaysia in the South China Sea.

Since then two memorial plaques have been placed on the island in the aircrew’s honour, one by 6SQN personnel at the local school and another by 82WG personnel at the actual crash site.

The party from 324CSS travelled to the school to thank the students and teachers for the wonderful work they perform maintaining the plaques.

Additionally, CO 324CSS presented the school with a cheque on behalf of 6SQN, along with school bags and books donated by 6SQN members. 324CSS also added to the donations with sporting goods and stationery for the 21 children who attend.

324CSS Chaplain, SQNLDR Ross Naylor, conducted a memorial service during which he delivered a speech in Bahasa Melayu, the local language.

“We have come here today to remember our two friends who died when their plane crashed. We have also come here to thank you for caring for their monument. This means so very much to us and to their families. Because you do this, we have come to think of you as our friends too,” SQNLDR Naylor said.

Lest we forget.

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