PNG crash - o/a 13 Feb 2011
Memorial to be held for Lloyd Lester, 57, feared dead in Papua New Guinea following a helicopter crash | Courier Mail
A MEMORIAL will be held for a former Australian police officer feared dead in Papua New Guinea after officials issued a death certificate despite never finding the man’s body following a helicopter crash.
Lloyd Lester, 57, was listed as missing feared dead after the squirrel helicopter he was piloting ditched into the Bismark Sea in PNG on Feburary 13.
The former NSW police officer’s body has never been found.
He was working one week on, one week off shifts and would return to his father's holiday home at Golden Beach every fortnight when he crashed.
Mr Lester frequented the Caloundra RSL when he was home from his job as a helicopter pilot in PNG.
Retired NSW Police officer John King said now that a death certificate had been issued, a memorial service would be held with friends and family.
The memorial is scheduled to be held at the Gregson and Weight Funeral Home in Caloundra on September 23 at 11am, followed by drinks in Mr Lester’s honour at the Caloundra RSL club.
Mr Lester had previously served with the NSW Police Air Wing as a pilot until the early 1990’s, and was among the police who helped search for murdered 9-year-old Ebony Simpson in 1992.
Mr Lester's mayday call in February was a calm, collected one, according to contributors to the Professional Pilot's Rumour Network web forum.
His last words were: “We’re going in.”
Part of the helicopter's blade was discovered, along with a life raft that was not deployed.
A search and rescue operation was called off about a week after Mr Lester crashed.
Lloyd Lester, 57, was listed as missing feared dead after the squirrel helicopter he was piloting ditched into the Bismark Sea in PNG on Feburary 13.
The former NSW police officer’s body has never been found.
He was working one week on, one week off shifts and would return to his father's holiday home at Golden Beach every fortnight when he crashed.
Mr Lester frequented the Caloundra RSL when he was home from his job as a helicopter pilot in PNG.
Retired NSW Police officer John King said now that a death certificate had been issued, a memorial service would be held with friends and family.
The memorial is scheduled to be held at the Gregson and Weight Funeral Home in Caloundra on September 23 at 11am, followed by drinks in Mr Lester’s honour at the Caloundra RSL club.
Mr Lester had previously served with the NSW Police Air Wing as a pilot until the early 1990’s, and was among the police who helped search for murdered 9-year-old Ebony Simpson in 1992.
Mr Lester's mayday call in February was a calm, collected one, according to contributors to the Professional Pilot's Rumour Network web forum.
His last words were: “We’re going in.”
Part of the helicopter's blade was discovered, along with a life raft that was not deployed.
A search and rescue operation was called off about a week after Mr Lester crashed.
Join Date: Feb 2011
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Thank you very much for posting up the details. I'm looking forward to meeting those of Dad's friends/colleagues who are able to make it on Friday to have a good laugh in his honour.
