BRING HEROES BACK HOME Western Daily Press www.westpress.co.uk 3rd February 2005 09:30hrs GMT Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon will make a private visit to RAF Lyneham today as a row continues to rage over the repatriation of the bodies of the heroic servicemen killed on Sunday. But a deepening mystery over what has happened at the Iraq crash site of the downed Hercules plane threatened to overshadow everything. The Ministry of Defence initially said that the bodies of the 10 killed in the Hercules tragedy would be flown into RAF Brize Norton, as reported in the Western Daily Press yesterday. The Oxfordshire base is where the remains of all servicemen killed in Iraq have been repatriated, each one with full military ceremony.

The Ministry of Defence initially said that the bodies of the 10 killed in the Hercules tragedy would be flown into RAF Brize Norton, as reported in the Western Daily Press yesterday. The Oxfordshire base is where the remains of all servicemen killed in Iraq have been repatriated, each one with full military ceremony.

But following a private outcry from the community in Lyneham - which is to be raised with Mr Hoon this afternoon - it appeared the MoD could be ready to break with protocol and stage the ceremony at the boys' home base.

An MoD spokesman last night said there was difficulty in recovering the bodies - but said speculation that the bodies of the airmen had been either stolen or tampered with by militants on the ground were "off the mark".

One source close to the MoD said: "Recovering the bodies is proving difficult, but that has more to do with the situation on the ground than any possible enemy action. The fact the MoD have sent their morticians out there indicates remains have been found."

The spokesman added that "no decision" had yet been made on where a repatriation ceremony should take place.

But local MP and defence expert James Gray, who said he has lobbied Mr Hoon on the matter, insisted it had to be in Lyneham. He said: "I'm not privy to any discussions with the bereaved families, but it's very clear that these airmen flew out of Lyneham, they lived and worked in Lyneham and without any doubt they should make their last journey to Lyneham, not Brize Norton. I'd be very disappointed if any other arrangements were made."

It is understood the U-turn could be agreed after discussions between the bereaved families and MoD chiefs. The issue has added sensitivity because RAF Lyneham is earmarked for a controversial closure - with its operations moving to Brize Norton.

Repatriation at Brize Norton would not be welcomed in Lyneham, one villager - who declined to be named - said yesterday: "It would be a bit of a kick in the teeth, to be honest.

"The MoD is closing Lyneham in a few years and moving everything to Brize Norton. It would be a little grating if our boys didn't come back to Lyneham after everything that has happened."

Yesterday there was still a sense of shock in the village. Former RAF engineer Andy Humm said: "It's still numb, and very sombre. Deep down, there's a big hole in Lyneham."

	With thanks to the Western Daily Press. www.westpress.co.uk This article appeared in the Western Daily Press 3rd February 2005. Bristol Evening Post & Press Ltd Temple Way Bristol BS99 7HD Tel: +44(0)117 934 3000