Black Hawk disaster - 20 years on
T
HE 20th anniversary of the 1996 Black Hawk
accident at High Range in which 18 soldiers were
killed was marked by a commemorative service at
the memorial in the Townsville Palmetum.
The service, attended by Chief of Army LTGEN Angus
Campbell, COMD Special Operations Command MAJGEN
Jeff Sengelman and COMD Forces Command MAJGEN Gus
Gilmore joined several personnel injured in the accident and
family members of those killed at the Townsville service.
Services were also held in Canberra, Sydney
and at Campbell Barracks in Perth.
Two 5Avn Regt Black Hawk helicopters collided in midair during a night training exercise at the Townsville
Field Training Area at High Range on June 12, 1996.
The first Black Hawk crashed killing the 12 people on board.
Six people on the second helicopter died
when it crash-landed and caught fire.
Twelve more were injured.
LTGEN Campbell said the tragedy was felt by
members of the Australian Defence Force and the
wider community, who joined together to honour the
service and memory of those who died on duty.
“The loss of 18 soldiers was the most significant
peacetime disaster to strike the Australian Army and
the largest single loss of life for Defence since the 1964
HMAS Voyager disaster,” LTGEN Campbell said.
“We commemorate the lives and service of
our soldiers who were lost in 1996.
“They continue to be missed by their
families, mates and colleagues.
“Across the nation, these services are a reminder
that our soldiers will not be forgotten.
“We also pay tribute to, and thank, the courageous people
who worked to tend to the injured on that fateful night.”
Fifteen members of the Perth-based Special Air Service
Regiment and three members of the Townsville-based
5th Aviation Regiment were killed in the accident.
Former Australian Army soldier CPL Gary Proctor, a survivor
of the 1996 Black Hawk helicopter training accident, recites the
Special Air Service Regiment prayer during the 20th anniversary
commemoration service
86 | SEPTEMBER 2016