Afghan RAF crash victims named

Tributes have been paid to the 14 service people named by the MOD as having been killed in an air crash in Afghanistan. The flag has been flying at half mast at RAF Kinloss in Scotland, where the crew were based, and a number of people laid flowers at the gates, and comforted each other. Meanwhile, Tony Blair and the Queen were among a church congregation praying for the victims' families. The wreckage of a Nato RAF Nimrod MR2 was found 12 miles west of Kandahar on Saturday afternoon. All those on board died: 12 RAF personnel and two others. The RAF servicemen were named as: Flt Lt Steven Johnson, Flt Lt Leigh Anthony Mitchelmore, Flt Lt Gareth Rodney Nicholas, Flt Lt Allan James Squires, Flt Lt Steven Swarbrick, Flight Sgt Gary Wayne Andrews, Flight Sgt Stephen Beattie, Flight Sgt Gerard Martin Bell and Flight Sgt Adrian Davies. Also named were: Sgt 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. RAF Kinloss station commander, Group Captain Chris Birks paid tribute, saying the RAF personnel were 'very experienced' in Afghanistan. He said: 'As well as first class personnel, these were colleagues and friends of myself and my personnel. 'This is a day no-one ever wants to have to experience. The station is in mourning.' A message on a bouquet read: 'My heart and thoughts are with all the family and friends of those who so sadly lost their lives in Afghanistan.' An inquiry has been launched to determine why the Nimrod crashed in southern Afghanistan. The reconnaissance aircraft was thought to have suffered a technical fault at 4pm local time (12.30pm BST) on Saturday, 12 miles west of Kandahar. A spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said enemy action had been discounted. Among those who died were 12 RAF service personnel, a Royal Marine and an Army soldier. The crash caused the biggest single loss of British troops in Afghanistan or Iraq since the war on terror began in November 2001. ISAF spokesman Major Luke Knittig said the aircraft - acting in a support role - had made an emergency call shortly before it disappeared.

ITN | September 3, 2006

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