Tributes Left at Crash Plane's Base
By Simon Evans
Press Association
31st January 2005 18.35pm
Flowers were laid today at the gates of RAF Lyneham in honour of the British troops who died yesterday when a Hercules plane from the Wiltshire base crashed near Baghdad.

Residents of the village visited the entrance to the base in ones and twos from as early as 8am, leaving bouquets and notes of condolence. Sara Cole, 39, who works at the base, came with her two children, Amy, seven, and four-year-old Aaron. “Everybody feels a deep sadness,” said Mrs Cole, whose husband also works at RAF Lyneham.

She told how her daughter, who turned seven yesterday, had insisted on using her birthday money to buy a bunch of flowers. “She got up and just wanted to do it. She paid for the flowers with birthday money,” Mrs Cole said.

Lyneham Village Online was among the first to lay floral tributes at the airbase entrance last night. James Gray, Conservative MP for North Wiltshire, visited the base today to offer his support and condolences. He said: “We are very concerned indeed about the people from RAF Lyneham.” Of the bereaved, he said: “They can perhaps feel comforted that their loved ones gave their lives for the cause of freedom and democracy.”