Flight Lieutenant Jeremy McNess & Flight Lieutenant Mark Cairns-CowanPrint Page 
The plaque commemorates Flight Lieutenant Jeremy McNess and Flight Lieutenant Mark Cairns-Cowan who were killed when their F-111 aeroplane crashed in 1993 while doing a simulated bombing raid on Guyra. A plaque was also dedicated at the crash site on the 17th May 2000. No wreckage remains on site.
The F-111C fighter aeroplane crashed while on a routine navigation exercise from Amberley base at Ipswich, Queensland on September 13, 1993. It crashed onto a property, 4 kilometres north-west of Guyra on the Tingha Road, with wreckage spread over a half square kilometre.
Witnesses said the aeroplane had caught fire in the air before exploding ‘like a fire cracker’ and falling to earth at around 7.15pm. It appeared to have been following the usual flight pattern, circling near the abattoirs. Radio contact with the aeroplane was lost at about 7pm.
Location
| Address: | 158 Bradley Street, Guyra Shire Council, Guyra, 2365 |
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| State: | NSW |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -30.221359 Long: 151.671427 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Monument |
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| Monument Theme: | People |
| Sub-Theme: | Tragedy |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 13-September-1993 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 13-September-1993 |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Tuesday 16th May, 2000 |
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In memory and honour of
Flt Lt Jeremy McNess and Flt Lt Mark Cairns-Cowan who were tragically killed on 13th September 1993 when their F-111 aircraft crashed into a field 4km west of Guyra
Their families and friends, the RAAF and the Guyra community will never forget them
Australia is fortunate to have such fine young men serving their nation
Their names will live forever
Air Marshal E. J. McCormack Chief of Air Force
Mr S. R. St Clair MP Member for New England
The Hon. B. C. Scott MP Minister for Veterans Affairs Minister assisting the Minister of Defence
Cr. H. N. Sanderson Mayor, Guyra Shire Council
