| The first ten British fatalities
of the war in Iraq were flown back to the UK on Saturday.
A C-17 transport aircraft brought the ten bodies back to
RAF Brize Norton, in Oxfordshire, where families and friends
of the victims attended a ceremony.
Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon and the Service Chiefs of Staff
were also present.
The bodies brought home were the eight British victims of
the US Marine Corps CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter crash on March
21, in which the four American air crew also died, and two
RAF Tornado aircrew, who were shot down by an American Patriot
missile near the Kuwait border on March 23.
The eight who died in the Sea Knight accident, all members
of 3 Commando Brigade, were: C/Sgt John Cecil RM, from Plymouth;
Capt Philip Guy RM; Mne Sholto Hedenskog RM; WO2 Mark Stratford
RM, Maj Jason Ward RM; OM(C) Ian Seymour RN, 148 Commando
Battery Royal Artillery; L/Bombardier Llywelyn Evans, 29 Commando
Regt Royal Artillery; and Sgt Les Hehir, 29 Commando Regt
Royal Artillery.
The Ministry of Defence has now been able to release all
six names of the victims of the helicopter collision over
the Gulf on March 22.
Six members of 849 Squadron and an American died when two
Sea King Mk 7 Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASaC) helicopters
crashed into each other during operations from the Amphibious
Task Group flagship HMS Ark Royal.
The six men were: Lt Philip Green, Lt Anthony King, Lt Marc
Lawrence, Lt Philip West, Lt James Williams and Lt Andrew
Wilson.
Lt Marc Lawrence (26), from Kent, was a Sea King Observer
and joined Britannia Royal Naval College in 1999. He joined
849 Squadron last year.
Lt Lawrence became engaged to Elaine last year, and the couple
planned to marry next year and settle in Cornwall. He was
a keen musician, and he played in the ship’s band on
board Ark Royal.
Lt Andrew Wilson (36) was a Sea King pilot, who was married
to Sarah.
The Commanding Officer of 849 Naval Air Squadron has sent
out an open letter in response to all the messages of condolence
received.
The letter states: “The early hours of 22 March 2003
marked a sad day in the proud history of 849 Naval Air Squadron.
“Two Sea King Mk 7 helicopters of 849 A Flight collided
over the Northern Arabian Gulf whilst conducting missions
in support of coalition forces, with the loss of all seven
crew members.
“As one can imagine, this tragic event has shocked
and devastated everyone, not only the friends and loved ones
of those involved but also of those associated in anyway with
849 Naval Air Squadron, the wider Fleet Air Arm community,
and beyond.
“Messages of condolence, support and sympathy began
arriving early Saturday morning. Since then, Culdrose and
849 Squadron have been overwhelmed by the flow of tributes
that continue to arrive.
“These have come from all quarters and include those
close to fallen comrades, fellow aviators, members of the
armed forces and from the general public. The strength and
understanding that these messages convey cannot be underestimated;
they have been, and continue to be, of enormous support not
only to the friends and family of those involved, but to those
still serving on A Flight and the 849 community as a whole.
“It will take time to respond personally to all the
tributes, but be assured that all those associated with 849
Naval Air Squadron are eternally grateful and will draw great
strength from them in the coming weeks and months.
“Despite such horrendous losses, 849 A Flight remain
in theatre and continue to execute vital missions in support
of Gulf operations. The 'Eyes of the Fleet' may have dimmed
briefly but they remain open, alert and ever vigilant.
“Finally, to our fallen comrades from 849 A Flight
we say: ‘Rest in peace in the knowledge that your professionalism,
dedication and ultimate sacrifice will never go unrecognised
or be forgotten’.” |
