Commemorative book of the 1996 Black Hawk helicopter accident
Courtesy of the SAS Historical FoundationBlack Hawk Helicopter Disaster 25th Anniversary Gift
Published - 08 August, 2021
The Tragic Accident
The Black Hawk helicopter accident of 12 June 1996 tragically claimed the lives of 15 members of the Special Air Service Regiment and 3 members of the 5th Aviation Regiment. During the months that followed the accident, the 5th Aviation Regiment received approximately 900 letters, signals, faxes and cards from all over the world.
Commemorative Book
Those messages of condolence, and the many newspaper articles produced after the accident, were collated and incorporated into a bound book. Only 38 books were produced, with one allocated to each Regiment and the remainder given to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident.
25th Anniversary Gift
A former Regimental Sergeant Major of 5th Aviation Regiment, 'Titch' Preston, has kindly gifted a copy of the book to the SAS Historical Foundation to mark the 25th Anniversary of the tragedy. The National Secretary of the Australian SAS Association, Mr Steve Paterson DSM, presented the book to the Chairman of the Foundation, Mr Greg Mawkes MBE, as Titch was unable to travel to WA. The book will be located within the SAS Historical Collection for viewing by visitors.
25th Anniversary Commemoration
The 5th Aviation Regiment commemorated the 25th anniversary of the 1996 Black Hawk accident, with a service at The Palmetum in Townsville, including a helicopter formation flypast.