Soldiers’ bodies return home from Iraq
The bodies of ten soldiers killed in an accident in Iraq have been returned home to the UK.
Nine men from the RAF and one from the army died on January 30th when their Hercules plane crashed.
It was the single largest loss of British life since the military operations against Iraq begun.
A militant group has released footage that reportedly shows the downed plane and have claimed responsibility for the crash.
The Government is looking at the causes of the crash and has refused to comment on the claims until the investigation is complete.
After the plane crashed on its way to Balad, near Baghdad, there was some speculation that it had been engaged in special operations.
But the Ministry of Defence has said that the flight was “routine”, adding that it never comments on the activities of special forces.
Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon attended the repatriation ceremony at RAF Lyneham along with the Princess Royal, Chief of Defence Staff Sir Michael Walker, senior air and army officers, and family and friends of the deceased.
Those repatriated were:
Lance Corporal Steven Jones Royal Corps of Signals
Squadron Leader Patrick Marshall HQ Strike Command
Flight Lieutenant David Kevin Stead RAF Lyneham
Flight Lieutenant Andrew Paul Smith RAF Lyneham
Flight Lieutenant Paul Martin Pardoel RAF Lyneham
Master Aircrew Gary Nicholson RAF Lyneham
Chief Technician Richard Antony Brown RAF Lyneham
Flight Sergeant Mark Gibson RAF Lyneham
Sergeant Robert Michael O’Connor RAF Lyneham
Corporal David Edward Williams RAF Lyneham
