sasr blackhawk accident

SASR - Blackhawk Accident
He Who Dares: Recollections of Service in the SAS, SBS and MI5
He Who Dares: Recollections of Service in the SAS, SBS and MI5
By David Sutherland
Return Ticket
Return Ticket
By Anthony Deane-Drummond
Soon after dark on 12 June 1996, six Blackhawk helicopters were participating in a Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) counter-terrorist training exercise near Townsville. The pilots used night vision goggles as they flew in tight formation towards the target area. Just 30 seconds from the landing zone, one helicopter veered right and clipped the rotor of another helicopter. One Blackhawk crashed immediately, killing 12 personnel, while the other was able to land but burst into flames, killing a further six soldiers. Ground staff and medics, along with crash survivors and personnel from the other helicopters, risked their lives to rescue their comrades and retrieve bodies from what must have seemed like a battlefield. An isolated location, darkness, ammunition rounds going off, flames, and explosions in the crashed helicopters created a dangerous and disturbing scene. In addition to the 18 deaths, many others were seriously injured. Fourteen personnel were later recognised for their bravery.
Recent contents

  1. SASR Tombs, Brett Stephen

    SURNAME Tombs FORENAME Brett Stephen (Tombsy) UNIT 1 Squadron SASR RANK Corporal NUMBER DATE OF DEATH 12th June 1996 AGE 31 GRAVESITE North Gundagai Cemetery, Gundagai, Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council, New South Wales, Australia ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 18.2.1965...

  2. SASR Stevens, Timothy James

    SURNAME Stevens FORENAME Timothy James UNIT 1 Squadron SASR RANK Captain NUMBER 234927 DATE OF DEATH 12th June 1996 AGE 29 GRAVESITE Pinnaroo Lawn Cemetery, Bridgeman Downs, Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 26.9.1966 New South Wales married...

  3. SASR Smith, Darren John

    SURNAME Smith FORENAME Darren John UNIT 1 Squadron SASR (152 Signals Squadron) RANK Corporal NUMBER DATE OF DEATH 12th June 1996 AGE 27 GRAVESITE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 28.9.1968 Queensland single enlisted 30.6.1986 Royal Australian Signals 139 Signals Squadron (Cpl)...

  4. SASR Peeters, Hendrik

    SURNAME Peeters FORENAME Hendrik UNIT 1 Squadron SASR RANK Signaller NUMBER DATE OF DEATH 12th June 1996 AGE 25 GRAVESITE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 15.12.1970 Queensland married enlisted 4.5.1988 Royal Australian Signals 103 Signals Squadron SASR 16.1.1991 killed...

  5. SASR Oldham, Darren Robert

    SURNAME Oldham FORENAME Darren Robert UNIT 1 Squadron SASR RANK Corporal NUMBER DATE OF DEATH 12th June 1996 AGE 29 GRAVESITE cremated and ashes scattered at sea from Blackhawk helicopter off Swanbourne,Western Australia ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 23.10.1966 Victoria...

  6. SASR McDonald, Timothy John

    SURNAME McDonald FORENAME Timothy John UNIT 1 Squadron SASR RANK Trooper NUMBER DATE OF DEATH 12th June 1996 AGE 24 GRAVESITE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 4.10.1971 New South Wales single enlisted 10.5.1989 Royal Australian Infantry 3 Bn Royal Australian Regiment (Pvt) SAS...

  7. SASR Johnstone, David Andrew

    SURNAME Johnstone FORENAME David Andrew UNIT 1 Squadron SASR RANK Lance Corporal NUMBER DATE OF DEATH 12th June 1996 AGE 26 GRAVESITE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 3.10.1969 New South Wales single enlisted 19.11.1986 Royal Australian Infantry 3 Bn Royal Australian Regiment...

  8. SASR Hagan, Glen Donald

    SURNAME Hagan FORENAME Glen Donald UNIT 1 Squadron SASR RANK Lance Corporal NUMBER DATE OF DEATH 12th June 1996 AGE 30 GRAVESITE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 21.11.1965 Victoria married (1 daughter) enlisted 6.7.1988 Royal Australian Infantry 6 Bn Royal Australian Regiment...

  9. SASR Frost, David Brian

    SURNAME Frost FORENAME David Brian UNIT 1 Squadron SASR RANK Lance Corporal NUMBER DATE OF DEATH 12th June 1996 AGE 28 GRAVESITE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 28.1.1968 New South Wales single enlisted 30.6.1985 Royal Australian Infantry 2/4 Bn Royal Australian Regiment (Cpl)...

  10. SASR Ellis, Hugh William

    SURNAME Ellis FORENAME Hugh William UNIT 1 Squadron SASR RANK Sergeant NUMBER DATE OF DEATH 12th June 1996 AGE 35 GRAVESITE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 2.7.1960 Victoria married (3 children) enlisted 8.9.1982 R.A.E.M.E. 3 Bn Royal Australian Regiment (Cpl) SAS selection...

  11. SASR Constantinidis, Andrew

    SURNAME Constantinidis FORENAME Andrew UNIT 1 Squadron SASR RANK Corporal NUMBER DATE OF DEATH 12th June 1996 AGE 33 GRAVESITE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 18.6.1962 Victoria married enlisted 18.1.1986 Army Reserve Royal Australian Signals 1 Commando Regiment (L/Cpl) SASR...

  12. SASR Church, Jonathon Gaius Sandford (Jon)

    SURNAME Church FORENAME Jonathon Gaius Sandford (Jon) UNIT 1 Squadron SASR RANK Trooper NUMBER DATE OF DEATH 12th June 1996 AGE 32 GRAVESITE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 1.9.1963 New South Wales single enlisted 5.11.1989 Army Reserve 1 Commando Regiment (Pvt) SAS selection...

  13. SASR Callow, Gordon Andrew

    SURNAME Callow FORENAME Gordon Andrew UNIT 1 Squadron SASR RANK Lance Corporal NUMBER DATE OF DEATH 12th June 1996 AGE 34 GRAVESITE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 22.12.1961 Victoria single enlisted 6.7.1988 Royal Australian Infantry 2/4 Bn Royal Australian Regiment (L/Cpl)...

  14. SASR Bird, Michael John

    SURNAME Bird FORENAME Michael John UNIT 1 Squadron SASR RANK Corporal NUMBER DATE OF DEATH 12th June 1996 AGE 28 GRAVESITE Freemantle Cemetery, Palmyra, Melville City, Western Australia, Australia. Plot General Lawn P-0209 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 7.4.1968 Western...

  15. SASR Avedissian, Mihran (Avi)

    SURNAME Avedissian FORENAME Mihran (Avi/Avey) UNIT 1 Squadron SASR (152 Signals Squadron) RANK Corporal NUMBER DATE OF DEATH 12th June 1996 AGE 29 GRAVESITE Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Springvale, Victoria, Australia. Armenian plot, row K, grave 42 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...
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