Quiet remembrance for 71st anniversary

The 71st anniversary of two airmen who died when their plane crashed into the ocean off Broome has been quietly celebrated at their Cable Beach memorial.

Broome Historical Society and Museum vice president Dion Marinis and helicopter pilot Jim Miles discovered the wreckage of their RAAF Beaufighter A19-163 last year.

Mr Marinus laid flowers at the base of the stone plaque in memory of pilot Flight-Sgt Ronald Kerrigan of North Perth, and navigator Sgt Ronald Smith from Strathfield, NSW.

They were killed when their aircraft crashed off Cable Beach on September 18, 1944.

The aircraft was one of four Beaufighters based in Broome assigned to provide protective cover for Catalina flying boats conducting patrols, bombing raids and mine laying operations in the waters occupied by the enemy-held Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia).

Three months after the discovery of the World War II RAAF aircraft, the families of both men received some closure when a dawn service was held at Cable Beach and a commemorative plaque unveiled as a tribute.

Mr Marinus said he was honoured to once again pay tribute to the men after contacting their families and organising flowers on their behalf.

Two Australian ARMY “Tiger” Attack helicopters flew over the memorial and down Cable Beach shortly after the ceremony, which Mr Marinus said was a fitting coincidence.

“I called the local Major at NorForce and said these aircraft were in the area and he said if he had known about the anniversary he would have arranged something special,” Mr Marinus said.

“All that aside, it was an awesome sight at a time two brave men were being honoured.”

Mr Marinis and Mr Miles began searching for the lost plane in 2012.

They had used a 4.3m "tinnie" to tow a homemade side-scan sonar that Mr Miles had made, before using a more sophisticated scanner and also a metal detector.

They gradually found parts of what they believe is the missing plane, including a window frame, which they had matched with a Beaufighter at Moorabbin Aviation Museum, as well as the tail wheel, tail plane and part of a wing.