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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Hercules Crash Victims Named |
| 2005-02-01 |
| ALL ten of the servicemen who died when an RAF plane crashed in Iraq were today named. The cause of the crash is not yet known and officials are investigating. One theory with some plausibility is that a bomb was smuggled onboard, possibly in Baghdad where the plane had stopped to refuel and pick up passengers. Squadron Leader Marshall was a staff officer serving with Headquarters Strike Command in High Wycombe. The rest of the air force men were based at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire, the home-base for all RAF Hercules. The station commander of RAF Lyneham told today of great sadness following the crash. In a statement read out at the base, Group Captain Paul Oborn said: "The whole of RAF Lyneham feel this loss intensely and our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies are with the families, friends and colleagues of those involved. "Crew, support personnel and passengers on board were playing a vital role in helping to deliver democracy to the Iraqi people. They will be sorely missed." A personal note - RAF Lyneham's just a few miles from where I live, and the Hercs are part of the scenery round here. I din't know any of crew personally, but a friend of mine teaches at a secondary school attended by the Lyneham children. He told me last night that they're having a pretty tough week. |
| Posted by:Bulldog |