04 September, 2006

Nimrod Tragedy.

The Ministry of Defence has the detailed casualty list from Saturday's Nimrod disaster, as does the BBC.

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.

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.

In a message of condolence, Lieutenant-General David J. Richards, Commander, International Security Assistance Force said,

It is with a great sense of personal loss that I offer my sympathies and condolences to the families and loved ones of the brave Nimrod crew that crashed yesterday...

This was a tragic accident. As sad as they are, these things do happen. Whilst it is important and right to reflect on the losses and sacrifices that our forces continue to make, we must move on and continue with our vital mission here, in part to ensure that their sacrifice is not in vain.
I hope we can all echo the General's sentiments and also realise that, whatever the tragedies that befall them and however they personally feel about them, the armed services have to continue their work.

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