47 Squadron are having talks with the Church
authorities regarding a memorial window in St Michael's and
All Angels church. We would very much like to contribute to
that fund and have a plaque adjacent to the new memorial window.
North Wiltshire MP James Gray said he was working with the
base on ideas for a memorial. "It would be nice to have
something at the base but there is also a new war memorial
in Wootton Bassett. Something could be added to that,"
he said. The Lyneham-based aircraft was en route from Baghdad
to the city of Balad when it came down on January 30. Eight
of the ten men on board were from the station. Families of
the dead men still face an agonising wait for their loved
ones' funerals to take place. After the bodies were bought
home to Lyneham last Tuesday they were taken to the mortuary
at Great Western Hospital in Swindon where post mortem examinations
were carried out.
But Wiltshire Coroner David Masters said the bodies would
not be released until inquests have been opened, which could
take another few weeks. It is understood the delay lies in
formally identifying the remains. Coroner's officer John Francis
yesterday said they were still waiting for the results of
DNA tests to identify the bodies. He said an inquest would
be opened in due course.
Mr Gray, who met with all ten families after the repatriation,
said the next few weeks would be a difficult time for them.
"They are all being incredibly brave," he said.
"The coroner said he would be working to release the
bodies in a couple of weeks." Messages from all over
the world have been pouring into the village
website and floral tributes are still being placed
outside the gates of the base. On Saturday a minute's
silence was held before Swindon Town's match.
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