FED: Service for airmen may be delayed until next week

AAP General News (Australia)
04-20-1999
FED: Service for airmen may be delayed until next week

By Janelle Miles

BRISBANE, April 20 AAP - A funeral service for two Australian airmen killed in Sunday's
F-111 crash in Malaysia may have to be delayed until next week because of problems in bringing
their bodies home.

The cockpit containing the bodies of pilot Flight Lieutenant Anthony Short, 31, and
navigator, Squadron Leader Stephen Hobbs, 33, was found in dense jungle yesterday.

The plane had crashed into a mountain on the tiny island of Aur off the Malaysian east
coast.

The Malaysian deployment was aimed at providing the RAAF with its first opportunity to test
newly-installed mission computer software in the F-111s.

An Amberley air base newspaper said the software upgrade was designed to improve
operational capability to make running the navigation seat easier and give crewmen more time
to concentrate on the mission at hand.

Defence Force spokesmen have so far been unable to comment on whether there was any
suspected link between the crash and the new software.

Defence Force spokesman Phil Smith said an accident investigation team arrived at the site
today.

The RAAF recalled one of its specialist airmen from the United States to help in the
investigations.

"The team, including people with fast jet experience, will be there for some days before
returning and working through what they've discovered," Flight Lieutenant Phil Smith said.

He said logistical difficulties in getting the bodies of the two young fathers home meant a
funeral service may have to be delayed until next week.

"A coroner has to get into the site. That's not going to be easy," Flt Lt Smith said.

"That has to be done before the remains can be brought from the site and then there's the
process of actually bringing those guys home to Australia.

"It's not a simple process. It takes a fair bit of planning.

"We are working on a memorial service. I don't expect that there'll be anything until next
week."

The deaths bring to 10 the number of airmen who have died in eight F-111 crashes since the
fighter bombers were introduced in 1973.

The crewmen from Number Six Squadron at Amberley Air Base, west of Brisbane, were taking
part in a simulated attack on a navy flotilla when the accident happened about 10.30pm on
Sunday.

Amberley chaplain Rod Acreman said until the remains of the men were returned home and a
funeral was held, the families would have difficulty understanding what had happened.

"RAAF chaplains have been helping the bereaved families deal with the emotional shock of
their loss and also helping them to understand the sense of unreality," Squadron Leader
Acreman said.

"Three chaplains are available for the families at all times, undertaking personal visits
and helping with formal arrangements."

The downed F-111 was one of four G-models from Australia taking part in war games involving
naval and air force personnel from Australia, Britain, Malaysia, Singapore and New Zealand.

Squadron Leader Hobbs left behind a wife and one child and Flt Lt Short is survived by a
wife and three children.

AAP jhm/was/br

KEYWORD: F111 NIGHTLEAD

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