Fleet Air Arm
Association of Australia
Naval Aviation Roll of Honour
Updated 14 November 2009
The dedication of the Naval Aviation Roll of Honour took place at the Memorial Garden at the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Nowra on Remembrance Day, November 11.
Fleet Air Arm Association National President, David Farthing, delivered the main dedication address and senior officers of HMAS Albatross laid wreaths. A fly-past of Navy aircraft was part of the ceremony.
The Association established the Roll of Honour in memory of those who have lost their lives in aircraft incidents while serving their country. The Association's Federal Council at its annual meeting on October 3 endorsed the proposal.
The aim of the Roll of Honour is to create a permanent memorial honouring:
- RAN, RANR and RANVR personnel who lost their life as a result of naval aircraft operations; and
- Other Service persons who lost their lives as a result of Australian naval aviation operations.
The Association sees a Roll of Honour as a fitting way to pay special tribute to men and women who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Some 89 names were identified for inclusion and they were selected using agreed criteria:
- RAN, RANR and RANVR personnel who died as a result of naval aircraft operations. The list contains the names of all RAN aircrew who lost their lives in aircraft-related incidents. The term "incident" covers those killed in action as well as those who died as a result of an aircraft accident. Not all these persons died as a result of a RAN accident, as a number died while serving with the Royal Navy or while flying in the United Kingdom. The important criteria is that they were RAN, RANR or RANVR aviators and that their death was due to a flying incident.
- Other Service persons who lost their lives as a result of Australian naval aviation operations.
This list covers those Service personnel, other than RAN, RANR or RANVR, who died while engaged in Australian naval aviation operations. For example, up to and during World War 2, RAN cruisers carried aircraft piloted by RAAF officers of 9 Squadron. Some of these aircraft were involved in naval aviation accidents and in enemy action.
Using the above criteria, the RAAF personnel who were onboard the RAN Sea King helicopter which crashed at Nias in April 2005 qualify for inclusion on the Roll of Honour.
The Australian Naval Aviation Roll of Honour is sited inside the Wall of Service which is alongside the Fleet Air Arm Museum.
This list of names has been accepted as qualified to be on the Roll of Honour at the present time.
See also:
History of Roll of Honour project
or
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