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Tenterfield R.A.A.F. F111 Crash Site Memorial

Tenterfield R.A.A.F. F111 Crash Site Memorial
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Tenterfield R.A.A.F. F111 Crash Site Memorial
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Tenterfield R.A.A.F. F111 Crash Site Memorial, close-up of tablets
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Description / Background

This war memorial is dedicated to two Royal Australian Air Force (R.A.A.F.) pilots who lost their lives in a training exercise crash on 2 April 1987. It is a unique-looking monument, considing of a central concrete pillar, with a jagged top. Flanking the pillar are two piles of rough stones, which have been secured together to prevent them falling. Attached to the front of the memorial are three granite tablets, The central tablet includes of the date of the crash and the names of the men who died are on the left and right tablets. 

Flight Lieutenant Mark Fallon and Flight Officer Bill Pike died when their F111 crashed near the town of Tenterfield. Shortly after the accident, locals and family members gathered in Tenterfield's Rotary Park to build a cairn using stones. It was to be a temporary memorial, and organisers planned to relocate it to the crash site following the investigations (RAAF News, 1 May 1987).

On the weekend of 22–23 August, the memorial was built along the roadside next to the crash site, using the original stones. The secretary of the group organising the work was Mr Brian Henry and it was carried out by volunteers from the Rotary and Lions Service Clubs and a contingent of airmen from Amberley Air Base. A detailed report of the memorial was published in the Tenterfield Star on 27 August. The report included photographs of the construction.

At the end of work on the Sunday afternoon, a brief dedication service was conducted by the Tenterfield Ministers' Fraternal, led by Captain Gray of the Tenterfield Salvation. More than 50 local residents joined Air Force members, friends and family for the service.

Inscription

Central tablet

Site of crash of

F111-C AB-128

2nd April 1987

They died in

the service

of their country

Left tablet

In memory of

F.O.

Bill

Pike

Right tablet

In memory of

Flt. Lt.

Mark

Fallon

Veterans listed on this memorial

Veterans listed on this memorial

Last held rank Given name Family name Conflict/s Service No. Service Campaign Read more
Flight Lieutenant Mark Fallon Peacekeeping, 1947–present Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) view
Flight Officer Bill Pike Peacekeeping, 1947–present Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) view

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Address
Mount Lindesay Road
Tenterfield NSW 2372
Local Government Area
Tenterfield Shire
Setting
Roadside
Location status
Moved/altered
Memorial type
Monument
Recorded by
Graham Wilson
Year of construction
1987
Conflict/s
Other
Materials
Concrete
Granite
Other stone