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Plane crash troops named by MoD Day of mourning for Nimrod base
(9 days later)
The names of 14 UK military personnel killed when their RAF plane crashed in Afghanistan have been released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). A day of mourning has been declared at RAF Kinloss in Moray, Scotland following the loss of a Nimrod MR2 which crashed in Afghanistan.
The Nimrod MR2 came down on Saturday, killing 12 air personnel from 120 Squadron based at RAF Kinloss in Moray, Scotland, a Royal Marine and a soldier. The aircraft 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 so far being blamed. An inquiry is under way, with a technical fault currently being blamed.
And in Afghanistan a British soldier has been killed and another injured in a suspected suicide bomb attack
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.
Most of the men were based at RAF Kinloss in ScotlandEnlarge Image
Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells rejected claims the UK's aircraft were worn out and more funds were needed.Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells rejected claims the UK's aircraft were worn out and more funds were needed.
Technical checks have been made on the fleet in Scotland and Afghanistan and Nimrod flights were expected to resume at Kinloss on Monday. 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."
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".
"They'd always like more, of course, and we'd like to provide it for them, but remember, we're not alone out here. There are 36 other countries helping in this operation." 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."
An RAF Kinloss station commander has insisted all safety procedures were followed.
'Professional guys'
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".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".
href="/1/hi/uk/5311060.stm" class="">Nato troops in complex fight Quick guide: Afghanistan Factfile: Nimrod MR2 href="/1/hi/uk/5311544.stm" class="">Army 'just' coping, says general Quick guide: Afghanistan Factfile: Nimrod MR2
The 12 RAF personnel killed were: 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. 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.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 soldier who died was Lance Corporal Oliver Simon Dicketts from the Parachute Regiment and the Royal Marine was named as Joseph David Windall.
Wing Cdr Cannard added: "They were hard-working, professional guys doing important jobs which they were committed to, which they enjoyed.
"They were good friends, their families were good friends to many of us."
As the flag at RAF Kinloss flew at half-mast, he added that the deaths affected families "all over the country".
The plane had been supporting a major offensive, in which Nato said more than 200 Taleban have been killed.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.Four soldiers with the Nato-led forces were killed and seven hurt in Operation Medusa, near the city of Kandahar.
'Significant force' Defence Secretary Des Browne said a "significant force" had been deployed to Afghanistan to "do a very specific job".
Defence Secretary Des Browne told BBC One's Sunday AM programme a "significant force" had been deployed to Afghanistan to "do a very specific job". PREVIOUS NIMROD LOSSES 17 November 1980: Bird strike at Roseisle Forest, near Kinloss, Scotland3 June 1984: Fire on board at St Mawgan, Cornwall16 May 1995: Engine fire at Lossiemouth, Scotland2 September 1995: Crash at Toronto Air Show, Canada href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=3582&edition=1" class="">Send us your reaction href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/5309100.stm" class="">Crash implications probed href="/1/hi/uk/5309206.stm" class="">MPs and experts respond
"We recognised that the job would bring certain dangers and risks and we supported our troops with, for example, a deployment of attack helicopters." Meanwhile the new head of the British Army, Sir Richard Dannatt, has warned that his soldiers can only "just" cope with the demands placed on them by ministers.
PREVIOUS NIMROD LOSSES 17 November 1980: Bird strike at Roseisle Forest, near Kinloss, Scotland3 June 1984: Fire on board at St Mawgan, Cornwall16 May 1995: Engine fire at Lossiemouth, Scotland2 September 1995: Crash at Toronto Air Show, Canada href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=3582&edition=1" class="">Send us your reaction BBC defence correspondent Paul Wood said: "The Taleban seem to be able to move at will around southern Afghanistan, and I think we're going to see this evolve more and more into an Iraq-like conflict, where these guerrillas do not confront NATO openly, they resort to tactics like suicide bombers."
He said the Nimrod aircraft had a good safety record and was maintained to very high standards. The Nimrod crash brings the death toll of UK forces personnel in Afghanistan to 36 since the start of operations in November 2001.
Earlier he paid his respects to those who had died, and dismissed claims by the Taleban that militia had shot down the plane.
Roland Buerk, the BBC's correspondent in Afghanistan, said Nato reported the Nimrod was flying too high to be hit by the Taleban's stinger missiles.
Taleban fighters
Patrick Mercer, the Conservative spokesman on homeland security, said British forces in Afghanistan needed to be better equipped.
"You've got to be prepared for a bloody engagement with doughty fighters like the Taleban.
"Now if we're going to do that we've got to have the kit, the equipment, the troops, the firepower that we need to do this as effectively as we can."
Group Captain Chris Birks, station commander at RAF Kinloss, said all safety procedures had been followed and the aircraft had not been overworked.
Crash implications probed MPs and experts respond
"We will always fly as required for operations.
"We have limits set that we do not exceed, and that certainly has been the case in the operations that we are flying in the Middle East and at home."
The crash brings the death toll of UK forces personnel in Afghanistan to 36 since the start of operations in November 2001.
There are 5,500 British troops in the country, helping to train Afghan security forces, facilitate reconstruction and provide security.There are 5,500 British troops in the country, helping to train Afghan security forces, facilitate reconstruction and provide security.
  • A special MoD helpline is available on 08457 800 900 for families concerned about relatives.
  • A special MoD helpline is available on 08457 800 900 for families concerned about relatives.