http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/NimrodCrewRepatriatedToRafKinloss.htm
Nimrod Crew Repatriated to RAF Kinloss
12 Sep 06
A ceremony was held today, Tuesday 12 September 2006, at RAF Kinloss to mark the repatriation of 14 Service personnel tragically killed in the Nimrod MR2 crash on Saturday 2 September near Kandahar, Afghanistan.
A sister RAF Nimrod provides the backdrop as the coffins of the 14 personnel arrive at RAF Kinloss
[Picture: SAC Kay Bingham]
The Secretary of State for Defence, Des Browne, who attended the event, said:
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those killed in this tragic crash. They were outstanding, brave, and dedicated men. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten.
"They were working towards making Afghanistan a safe and secure place as well as protecting our nation and its interests. We owe them an enormous debt of gratitude for that."
Also attending the ceremony were His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh; Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup; Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy and Commander-in-Chief Strike Command, Air Chief Marshal Sir Joe French.
The coffins are unloaded one at a time from the C17, each borne on the shoulders of comrades and greeted by a Chaplain from their respective Armed Service.
[Pciture: SAC Chapman]
Air Chief Marshal Stirrup said:
"We have all suffered a great loss. But the families and loved ones of those who died bear the greatest burden of grief, and they are foremost in our thoughts. Our Servicemen and women achieve remarkable things under the most arduous and dangerous conditions – sometimes, alas, at personal sacrifice.
"Their bravery is well known and rightly admired. But we must never forget what their loved ones have to endure: the worry and uncertainty they must live with while continuing to run homes and families and, as in this case, the terrible loss. Theirs is a courage of the most profound kind."
"This country owes not just the honoured dead but also those whom they have left behind an enormous debt of gratitude."
The Service of repatriation was lead by the senior chaplains from all three Services; Chaplain of the Fleet The Venerable John Green, Deputy Chaplain General The Reverend John Witton, and Chaplain in Chief of the Royal Air Force Reverend Air Vice Marshal Peter Mills.
The fourteen UK Service personnel were brought back from Afghanistan in a RAF C-17 transport plane
[Picture: Sgt Fenwick]
The coffins left Afghanistan this morning, following a brief sunset ceremony, and were repatriated on board an RAF C17 from No.99 Squadron RAF Brize Norton. They arrived at RAF Kinloss at lunchtime today.
Musical accompaniment to the ceremony was provided by The Central Band of the Royal Air Force.
The order of repatriation was by Service Seniority, then rank:
Marine Joseph David Windall, aged 22, Royal Marines
Corporal Oliver Simon Dicketts, 27, Parachute Regiment
Flight Lieutenant Allan James Squires, 39, from Clatterbridge (Pilot and Captain)
Flight Lieutenant Steven Johnson, 38, from Collingham, Notts. (Weapon System Officer (Navigator))
Flight Lieutenant Gareth Rodney Nicholas, 40, from Redruth, Cornwall (Weapons Systems Officer (Air Electronics Officer))
Flight Lieutenant Steven Swarbrick, 28, from Liverpool (Pilot)
Flight Lieutenant Leigh Anthony Mitchelmore, 28, from Bournemouth (Weapon System Officer (Navigator))
Flight Sergeant Adrian Davies, 49, from Amersham, Bucks. (Air Engineer)
Flight Sergeant Gary Wayne Andrews, 48, from Tankerton, Kent (Weapon System Operator)
Flight Sergeant Gerard Martin Bell, 48, from Ely, Cambs. (Weapon System Operator)
Flight Sergeant Stephen Beattie, 42, from Dundee (Weapons Systems Operator)
Sergeant Gary Paul Quilliam, 42, from Manchester (Weapons Systems Operator)
Sergeant Benjamin James Knight, 25, from Bridgewater (Weapons Systems Operator)
Sergeant John Joseph Langton, 29, from Liverpool (Weapons Systems Operator)