The thunderous Brize Norton-based aircraft,
used instead of a Hercules because of its size, performed
a low level fly-past before landing out of sight. Families
dressed in black placed protective arms around one another
as they waited for the first glimpse of their loved ones.
Forty minutes after the plane landed it taxied the last
few metres before finally coming to rest outside the terminal
building. It met two C130 Hercules aircraft parked on the
runway in honour of the victims. Close relatives and dignitaries,
including Princess Anne and defence secretary Geoff Hoon,
watched the ceremony from inside a specially erected marquee
on the tarmac.
The Princess, Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Lyneham and
Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Corps of Signals, wore a
long black coat, boots and a hat as she arrived minutes
before the proceedings started. Around 400 service personnel
from RAF Lyneham, including members of 47 Squadron where
five of the men were based, stood in silence as their comrades
were brought home. A drum beat from the Central Band of
the RAF broke the eerie silence to signal the beginning
of the stirring ceremony. Moments later the first coffin,
that of Acting Lance Corporal Steven Jones, the only soldier
killed in the tragedy, was carried out of the plane. Six
bearers from his own unit, the Royal Corps of Signals,
ushered the casket out of the aircraft's tail.
Off-loading was overseen by Sgt Major Billy Mott, garrison
sergeant major for the London District. Leading the salutes
as each coffin was slowly lowered by its bearing party
and loaded into its hearse was Warrant Officer John Duff,
warrant officer for RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. Service
personnel saluted as the Union Jack shrouded coffin passed
on its way to a hearse, which was waiting in front of the
family seating area.
As the 50-strong band played the first notes of Solemn
Melody six Army bearers lowered their colleague into the
hearse. The car then drove slowly around the aircraft and
off into the distance as the moving ritual started for
the airmen. One by one, the coffins were taken off the
aircraft in rank order.
Each was draped in the British flag, including that of
Australian Flight Lieutenant Paul Pardoel, although his
home country's flag was displayed inside the marquee. The
sequence was Squadron Leader Patrick Marshall, 39; Flight
Lieutenant Paul Pardoel, 35; Flight
Lieutenant David Stead, 35; Flight
Lieutenant Andrew Smith, 25; Master
Aircrew Gary Nicholson, 42; Flight
Sergeant Mark Gibson, 34; Chief
Technician Richard Brown, 40; Sergeant
Robert O'Connor, 38 and Corporal
David Williams, 37.
At the back of the huge C17 aircraft stood The Venerable
Air Vice Marshall Ron Hesketh and Chaplain General David
Wilkes. They bowed their heads in respect as each coffin
was lifted out. There were no formal prayers during the
ceremony. Music played included Air from Rinaldo, Elegy
on the RAF March, Nimrod, Largo in G, and Beethoven's Funeral
March No 1.
Wing Commander Trevor Field, London-based spokesman for
the RAF, said: "This was a very sombre and solemn
occasion and it is poignant that, particularly the air
crews, are repatriated to their home base." He added: "They
were helping bring justice and freedom to Iraq and supporting
their fellow servicemen through a very difficult occupation."
After the repatriation, families had a private meeting
with the Princess Royal and Mr Hoon, before spending time
with their loved ones in a special holding area at the
base. The families were the focus of the ceremony event,
with even Princess Anne stepping back to make way for the
relatives.
After the families left the tarmac they spent time talking
to dignitaries, including the Princess, Geoff Hoon and
James Gray, MP for North Wiltshire. Mr Gray said relatives
were "very pleased indeed" with the way the ceremony
went as they chatted during the four hour meeting in the
officers' mess. "I think I spoke to all 10 families
and the word they used more than anything was "dignified.
It was a very distinguished event and everyone was very
glad the coffins came home to Lyneham. Obviously the families
were very upset and there was a lot of grief. But at the
same time there was real pride that their men had given
their lives. There was no bitterness at all. I thought
they might have been upset that it was a C17 rather than
a Hercules but they weren't."
He said there was particular praise for the station commander,
Group Captain Paul Oborn, who had supported the families
throughout the difficult days. There was a lot of concern
about the future, but the RAF has attached two officers
to each of the families to help deal with the practicalities
of death.
"The only disquiet was about the intrusive media
attention. The way some of the tabloids and press agencies
behaved was quite unacceptable. One reporter dressed as
a florist and pretended to deliver a bouquet. But I made
it quite clear in Parliament that it was not the local
media."
Other VIPs attending the ceremony were: General Sir Michael
Walker, Chief of Defence Staff; Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock
Stirrup, Chief of Air Staff; Air Chief Marshal Sir Brian
Burridge, CinC Strike Command; Major General Tony Raper,
representing Chief of General Staff; Vice Admiral Burnell-Nugent,
Second Sea Lord, representing Chief of Naval Staff; Air
Marshal Glenn Torpy, Chief of Joint Operations. The Chaplains-in-Chief
were the Venerable (Air Vice Marshal) Ron Hesketh RAF and
Chaplain General Reverend David Wilkes. North Wiltshire
MP James Gray attended as did RAF Lyneham's station commander
Group Captain Paul Oborn with his wife Sarah.
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