|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
Albert Simon
Demon Slayer
Joined: 24 Nov 2003
Posts: 1250
Location: Scotland
TMK Koins: 2147483147
Items
|
| |
|
Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 8:47 pm
Post subject: Day of mourning for Nimrod base |
 |
| |
| Quote: | A day of mourning has been declared at RAF Kinloss in Moray, Scotland, following the loss of one of the base's aircraft, which crashed in Afghanistan.
The Nimrod MR2 came down on Saturday, killing 12 air personnel from 120 Squadron, a Royal Marine and a soldier, all of whom have now been named.
An inquiry is under way, with a technical fault currently being blamed.
Also in Afghanistan a British soldier has been killed and another injured in a suspected suicide bomb attack.
A Downing Street spokesman said Tony Blair viewed the latest death with "sadness".
"It underlines again our debt of gratitude to the Army," he added.
Four civilians were also hurt in the blast on the Kabul-Jalabadad road where the Nato convoy was travelling on Monday.
RAF Kinloss station commander Group Captain Chris Birks said all non-essential flights, not including search and rescue, had been grounded on Monday for a day of mourning as a result of the Nimrod loss.
Technical checks have been made on the fleet in Scotland and Afghanistan and a four-man board of inquiry is travelling to the Middle East to investigate the crash.
Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells rejected claims the UK's aircraft were worn out and more funds were needed.
Mr Howells, who is visiting the Afghan capital Kabul, said: "I've not heard that at all from our commanders, our generals out here, they seem very satisfied with the equipment they've got."
But Mr Howells did also suggest some of the other Nato countries with military deployment in Afghanistan ought to be "pulling their weight".
He said: "There are many nations out here who are part of this effort, but I think there has to be much more emphasis on ensuring that they are putting in the assets, the air cover, the soldiers on the ground, the transportation to ensure that those men and women on the frontline have got the support that they require."
As the Scottish base tried to come to terms with the tragedy, Wing Commander Martin Cannard, of 120 Squadron, said the victims were "great guys" and described their deaths as a "profound loss".
The 12 RAF personnel killed were named by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) as: Flight Lt Steven Johnson, Flt Lt Leigh Anthony Mitchelmore, Flt Lt Gareth Rodney Nicholas, Flt Lt Allan James Squires, Flt Lt Steven Swarbrick, Flt Sgt Gary Wayne Andrews, Flt Sgt Stephen Beattie, Flt Sgt Gerard Martin Bell and Flt Sgt Adrian Davies.
Also named were Sergeant Benjamin James Knight, Sgt John Joseph Langton and Sgt Gary Paul Quilliam.
The soldier who died was Lance Corporal Oliver Simon Dicketts from the Parachute Regiment and the Royal Marine was named as Joseph David Windall.
The plane had been supporting a major offensive, in which Nato said more than 200 Taleban have been killed.
Four soldiers with the Nato-led forces were killed and seven hurt in Operation Medusa, near the city of Kandahar.
Defence Secretary Des Browne said a "significant force" had been deployed to Afghanistan to "do a very specific job". |
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5312258.stm
I can't beleive what has happened, this has been a very tragic week, I have a friend who's father was one of the 14 soldiers.
_________________
"Why should people trust me? They don't have any reason to, yet. Distrust is human nature. Distrust creates doubt and doubt causes people to miss judge the intention of others. But people can change, can't they?"
"Time changes nothing, the world today is still filled with madness and rage."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
l{ombat_l{rave
TMK FanFic Kreator
Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 3869
Location: Behind you. Your other behind.
TMK Koins: 999999999
Items
|
| |
|
Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 9:22 pm
Post subject: |
|
| |
...that is sad news indeed...I am sorry to hear about your friend...I find it even more depressing to know here we do not even receive that news...
_________________
"...don't think it's yours just 'cause you marked it with your urine."
Ínformatíos sumus memorías æternus.
~Totus Moratlís Kertamen
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| All times are GMT | Page 1 of 1
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
| |
|
| | |
