Inquest hears Hercules' final radio message
Swindon Advertiser
www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk
1st April 2008
THE last desperate radio message from an RAF Hercules shot down in Iraq was heard at the inquest into the deaths of the 10 servicemen on board today. Lance Corporal Steven Jones, a passenger on the plane, radioed in "No duff no duff, we are on fire, we are on fire," before all communication was lost, the inquest was told.

Wiltshire Coroner David Masters, giving his opening address at Trowbridge Town Hall, said: "This was the largest loss of life to hostile action in a single incident sustained by the RAF since the Second World War."

The C-130K transporter aircraft was shot down between Baghdad and nearby Balad air base at 1.30pm on January 30, 2005. Enemy fire pierced a fuel tank causing it to explode and blow off a wing. Nine RAF servicemen and one soldier died. The wreckage was later found by US military personnel with the right wing of the Hercules 1,500m away.

ESF (explosive-suppressant foam), which prevents fuel tanks exploding if they are hit, was not fitted to the plane. US Air Force Hercules have had ESF since the 1960s. Australian Air Forces Hercules have had it fitted retrospectively.

Mr Masters said: "The question is whether the 10 personnel may have survived if their aircraft had been fitted with ESF. It is a question we will seek to address."

The coroner said he would look into why the Hercules was flying at low level in daylight. He also pledged to examine why a report by US helicopter crews of a small arms fire ambush in the same area, which took place at 10.15 that day was not mentioned to the Hercules crew.

In the light of a High Court challenge launched last month by the Ministry of Defence aimed at limiting coroners' freedom to make comments in respect of MoD conduct which could be seen to be apportioning civil liability, Mr Masters promised families of the 10 victims that he would not be deflected from carrying out a "full, frank and fearless inquiry".

He said he wanted the inquest to be "as transparent and open as possible" despite some sensitive evidence having to be heard privately.

Sarah Chapman, sister of Sergeant Robert O'Connor, who was killed in the tragedy, has accused the MoD of not fitting ESF to the 45-strong fleet of RAF Hercules on cost grounds - £600,000 per craft for a retrospective fit.

"It is a travesty that people have got to lose their lives before action is taken," she said ahead of today's hearing. The MoD pledged following the crash to fit all RAF Hercules with ESF.

A spokesman for the MoD said today that between 20 and 30 have now got the foam. All RAF Hercules currently flying "routinely" in Afghanistan and Iraq now have ESF, according to Jonathan Glasson, barrister for the MoD at the inquest.

The victims based at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire were: RAF 47 Squadron's Flt Lt David Stead, the pilot, 35; Flt Lt Andrew Smith, 25, the co-pilot; Master Engineer Gary Nicholson, 42; Flt Sgt Mark Gibson, 34, Australian airman Flt Lt Paul Pardoel, 35 a navigator; and from Lyneham's Engineering Wing, Chief Technician Richard Brown, 40, an avionics specialist; Corporal David Williams, 37, a survival equipment fitter; and Sgt O'Connor, 38, an engineering technician.

Also on board was Sqn Ldr Patrick Marshall, 39, from Strike Command Headquarters, RAF High Wycombe. Acting L/Cpl Jones, 25, of Fareham, Hampshire, a Royal Signals soldier, was a passenger on the Hercules.