Australian Naval History on 26 April 1999

HMAS Tobruk II was assigned the difficult task of supporting the investigation and recovery of a RAAF F-111G aircraft which had crashed on the Malaysian Island of Pulau Aur while participating in an International Air Defence Exercise. Tragically both the F-111’s aircrew, Flight Lieutenant Anthony Short and Squadron Leader Stephen Hobbs, were killed in the accident. Members of Tobruk’s crew, along with the RAAF Accident Investigation Team, erected a white cross at the crash site in memory of the aircrew.