Thursday, February 03 2005 @ 08:44 AM MST
Contributed by: tomw
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 The Scotsman -- Prime Minister Tony Blair tonight led the tributes to 10 servicemen killed in the RAF Hercules crash in Iraq.
During Prime Minister’s Questions he said the thoughts and prayers of MPs were with the families of those who were on board.
He pledged to “stay the course†in Iraq and help it towards democracy following the “heartwarming†elections at the weekend.
They were taking place on Sunday when the crash occurred and Mr Blair said: “It is doubly tragic that it happened on a day of such hope in Iraq.â€
Mr Blair said MPs would be united in paying tribute to “the brave service personnel†who were on the plane.
Tory leader Michael Howard said: “It is an acutely painful reminder of the sacrifices made at our behest and on our behalf. We mourn their loss and pay tribute to their courage.â€
Mr Blair refused to speculate on the cause of the crash amid claims by militant groups that they shot down the aircraft.
His words came as further details emerged about the nine RAF men and one soldier who died.
Flight Lieutenant David Stead, 35, was a pilot of “exceptional skill†described by colleagues as “Steady by name and steady by natureâ€.
He once helped rescue a number of seriously-injured combat casualties in Afghanistan in “appalling flying conditionsâ€, the Ministry of Defence said.
A “typically straight-talking Yorkshiremanâ€, he was a “wonderful†husband to wife Michelle and father to daughters Holly and Amelia.
Co-pilot Andrew Smith, 25, who came from Cleethorpes, had fulfilled a lifetime’s ambition by joining the RAF, his brother Gary told the Grimsby Telegraph.
Master Engineer Gary Nicholson, 42, and Flight Sergeant Mark Gibson, 34, had each received several medals for various missions over many years of service.
Flight Lt Paul Pardoel, aged 35 and originally from Australia, was described by his father as “the nearest thing you could find to an ideal childâ€.
Chief Technician Richard Brown, 40, had worked “ceaselessly†for charity while Corporal David Williams, 37, had a “mischievous personalityâ€.
Sergeant Robert O’Connor, 38, and Squadron Leader Patrick Marshall, 39, were the other two RAF men who died.
The MoD would not comment on reports that the only soldier on board, Acting Lance Corporal Steven Jones, 25, was attached to the SAS and a spokeswoman would not comment on where he was based.
She stressed that the flight the men were taking between Baghdad and Balad airbase was a regular route and “not a one-offâ€.
But a source confirmed that 47 Squadron, to which the crew belonged, often worked with the SAS.
Today in the House of Commons the Prime Minister refused to speculate on how the crash happened, saying it would be for the board of inquiry to find the cause.
An MoD spokesman tonight said an investigation team had been on the ground and made its initial assessments.
He added: “Whether or not enemy fire was involved remains to be established.â€
The relatively slow, low-flying Hercules, renowned for its reliability, crashed in clear conditions 25 miles northwest of Baghdad. |
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