Cable Beach memorial for airmen

A memorial plaque will be constructed on grassland above Cable Beach, in time for the 70th anniversary of an RAAF Beaufighter crash which killed its navigator and pilot.

The aircraft was launching for an exercise off the coast of Broome on September 18, 1945 when it pitched and crashed into the sea.

Subsequent searches found no sign of the wreckage and Sergeants Ronald Kerrigan and Ronald Smith were listed as missing in action.

Helicopter pilot and wreck hunter Jim Miles and Broome historian Dion Marinis announced last month that they had found the aircraft after a two-year search, about 2km off Cable Beach.

The RAAF and the WA Museum agree it appears to be the plane, and an application to have the site added to the State register of heritage places will be made.

Mr Marinis approached the Shire of Broome requesting a suitable memorial be approved and built before a proposed dawn service on September 18.

The council has agreed to install a 1.5m-high rock plinth with a brass plaque, worth about $3800.

The Broome RSL has agreed to pay $1000 towards the cost.

Mr Marinis said he was "over the moon" with the council support, and has emailed the families of the lost crewmen informing them of the approvals.

"Knowing that it has impacted the lives of the families of this lost crew brings great fulfilment after two years searching for this lost aircraft," he said.

Mr Marinis said three generations of the Kerrigan family plan to make the trip to Broome for the service.

Shire president Graeme Campbell said the significance of the discovery could not be overplayed.

He said there would be no inhibition in the future for a larger and more elaborate memorial.