Tommy Little reveals tragic connection to Port Phillip plane crash
Tommy Little has revealed his tragic connection to the plane crash in a heartbreaking letter to his mentor and ‘sidekick in the sky’.
The comedian shared a moving tribute to pilot Stephen Gale who was killed when a former military plane crashed in Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay on Sunday.
Mr Gale, 56, and Masterchef cameramen James Rose, 30, went down in one of two Viper S-211 Marchetti planes during a formation flight for a Jetworks Aviation promotional video, about 12km west of Mount Martha.
It is understood the jets collided at around 1.45pm, with police confirming on Wednesday that bodies had been found in the wreckage.
In his tribute, the comedian remembered Mr Gale, a former member of the Royal Australian Air Force, as one of his closest friends, a mentor and sidekick in the air.
“To put it bluntly, Stephen Gale is the most intelligent man I have ever met in my life and our relationship was the perfect example of when opposites attract,” Little wrote.
‘An inventor, an adventurer and a heart of gold. He was a real Tony Stark, but with a flying suit instead of an iron suit. His love for aviation was unparalleled.”
Tommy Little (right) posted a moving tribute to pilot Stephen Gale (left) after he was killed when a former military plane crashed into Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay on Sunday
Pilot Stephen Gale, 56, and Mr Rose were reported missing after the ex-jet fighters collided about 12km west of Mount Martha, in Melbourne’s south-east, on Sunday
A highly experienced pilot, Mr Gale owned Jetworks Aviation, an Essendon Fields-based company set up for the upcoming TV documentary Any Fool Can Fly.
There was little among the student pilots that was seen in the series about a group of top performers trying to master flying, aerobatics and formation.
The media personality, who co-hosts a radio show with Carrie Bickmore and previously co-hosted Network 10’s The Project, recalled Gale’s love for his wife Tori and son Tommy.
“Both you and your beautiful little man were the best things that ever happened to him,” he wrote in the post.
“For Little Tommy, losing your father before your first birthday is something that no baby should ever have to do, but I promise to be the best godfather ever and to constantly remind you of the tour de force that was your father.
“Besides, your mother is Wonder Woman, so you’ll be fine. We got you.’
Little, who also expressed condolences to Rose’s family, said he spoke to Gale almost every day and would take him with him if he needed some cheering up.
“To the family of James Rose: I cannot imagine the pain you are going through and I am sending you all my love and condolences,” he wrote.
‘Steve and I would talk almost every day and if I was ever down he would say ‘it sounds like we should go flying’ and half an hour later life’s troubles would melt away as we looked down over our beautiful city.
“But now the person who can make this problem melt away even for a second is the only person who isn’t here to do it with me.
“I love you Cap. I’ll see you in the sky.’
Victoria Police confirmed human remains were discovered in the ex-jet on Monday evening (photo, search efforts earlier this week)
The police are further investigating the cause of the plane crash.