FRIENDS and family of two men who died when their plane crashed near the Princes Freeway more than 45 years ago are relieved their memories have finally been honoured.
Flying Officer Samuel Roy Barkley, 23, and navy pilot Sub-Lieutenant Michael Lynch, 21, were killed on October 11, 1967 when their Vampire jet crashed where the Palmers Road bridge now stands.
As the plane hurtled towards Geelong Road, now the Princes Freeway, Sub-Lieutenant Lynch made a split-second decision to crash the jet into a paddock next to the road, saving the lives of motorists.
Veterans Affairs Minister Hugh Delahunty last week renamed the bridge the Lynch-Barkley bridge in recognition of the pair’s sacrifice.
The naming followed a five-year campaign led by Footscray’s Sergeant Ian Brown.
At the time of the accident, Flying Officer Barkley and Sub-Lieutenant Lynch were based at the Laverton RAAF base and were taking part in the refitting of the HMAS Parramatta in Port Phillip Bay.
They were leaving on a routine flight when their jet’s engine failed on take-off.
Sub-Lieutenant Lynch’s uncle Leo Linehan had the task of identifying his nephew after the accident and said he was proud of him for being able to bring the plane down away from Geelong Road.
“It was a relief that naming finally happened. It was a great honour for my nephew.
“Both the families were there and had a chance to get some closure.”
In a newspaper report from the day after the crash, Sub-Lieutenant Lynch’s father Bernard stated his son had always wanted to be a pilot.
It was reported the last message from the plane was that it was in trouble and that Sub-Lieutenant Lynch was aborting take-off. Seconds later the plane careered above a railway line, nose-dived into a paddock and burst into flames. RAAF firefighters reached the crash within minutes but were unable to control the blaze before it burnt out the cockpit.
Wal Gascoigne, who was a close friend of Sub-Lieutenant Lynch, described him as an experienced Vampire pilot who had spent about 425 hours flying.
“I flew about 20 operational navy flights with Mick and held him in high regard as a pilot and an officer in the Royal Australian Navy.
“At the time of the accident, Mick was considered a professional and experienced Vampire pilot.”
Mr Delahunty said the bridge would stand as a reminder of a gallant act.
“These young men carried out the most heroic act by sacrificing their own lives to save others.”
