Townsville Black Hawk Memorial

On the evening of Wednesday June 12, 1996, a formation of six Black Hawk helicopters departed RAAF Townsville to conduct a counter-terrorism approach exercise. Seconds before landing one of the helicopters veered to the right, clipping the tail rotor of a second aircraft. The lead helicopter crashed to the ground and the second helicopter crash landed in an upright position. Both aircraft caught fire and eighteen Australian servicemen perished. The memorial is a stone cairn on a stepped base. It is positioned in front of a paved area with pavilion and white columns that are covered.