Afghan Nimrod crash: MoD names the 14 military dead

The names of 14 UK military personnel killed when their RAF plane crashed in Afghanistan have been released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Top L-R: Flt Sgt Adrian Davies; Flt Lt Leigh Anthony Mitchelmore; Flt Lt Gareth Rodney Nicholas; Sgt Benjamin James Knight; Sgt Gary Paul Quilliam. Bottom L-R: Flt Sgt Stephen Beattie; Flt Lt Allan James Squires; Flt Sgt Gary Wayne Andrews; Flt Sgt Gerard

The Nimrod MR2 came down on Saturday, killing 12 air personnel from 120 Squadron based at RAF Kinloss in Moray, Scotland, a Royal Marine and a soldier. An inquiry is under way, with a technical fault so far being blamed.

Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells rejected claims the UK's aircraft were worn out and more funds were needed. Technical checks have been made on the fleet in Scotland and Afghanistan and Nimrod flights were expected to resume at Kinloss on Monday. Mr Howells, who is visiting the Afghan capital Kabul, said: "I've not heard that at all from our commanders, our generals out here, they seem very satisfied with the equipment they've got. They'd always like more, of course, and we'd like to provide it for them, but remember, we're not alone out here. There are 36 other countries helping in this operation."

An RAF Kinloss station commander has insisted all safety procedures were followed. As the Scottish base tried to come to terms with the tragedy, Wing Commander Martin Cannard, of 120 Squadron, said the victims were "great guys" and described their deaths as a "profound loss".

The 12 RAF personnel killed were:

• Flight Lt Steven Johnson
• Flt Lt Leigh Anthony Mitchelmore
• Flt Lt Gareth Rodney Nicholas
• Flt Lt Allan James Squires
• Flt Lt Steven Swarbrick
• Flt Sgt Gary Wayne Andrews
• Flt Sgt Stephen Beattie
• Flt Sgt Gerard Martin Bell
• Flt Sgt Adrian Davies.
  Sergeant Benjamin James Knight
• Sgt John Joseph Langton
• Sgt Gary Paul Quilliam.

The soldier who died was Lance Corporal Oliver Simon Dicketts from the Parachute Regiment and the Royal Marine was named as Joseph David Windall.

Wing Cdr Cannard added: "They were hard-working, professional guys doing important jobs which they were committed to, which they enjoyed. They were good friends, their families were good friends to many of us." As the flag at RAF Kinloss flew at half-mast, he added that the deaths affected families "all over the country".

The plane had been supporting a major offensive, in which Nato said more than 200 Taleban have been killed. Four soldiers with the Nato-led forces were killed and seven hurt in Operation Medusa, near the city of Kandahar.

Defence Secretary Des Browne told BBC One's Sunday AM programme a "significant force" had been deployed to Afghanistan to "do a very specific job". "We recognised that the job would bring certain dangers and risks and we supported our troops with, for example, a deployment of attack helicopters."

He said the Nimrod aircraft had a good safety record and was maintained to very high standards. Earlier he paid his respects to those who had died, and dismissed claims by the Taleban that militia had shot down the plane.

Roland Buerk, the BBC's correspondent in Afghanistan, said Nato reported the Nimrod was flying too high to be hit by the Taleban's stinger missiles.

Patrick Mercer, the Conservative spokesman on homeland security, said British forces in Afghanistan needed to be better equipped. "You've got to be prepared for a bloody engagement with doughty fighters like the Taleban. Now if we're going to do that we've got to have the kit, the equipment, the troops, the firepower that we need to do this as effectively as we can."

Group Captain Chris Birks, station commander at RAF Kinloss, said all safety procedures had been followed and the aircraft had not been overworked.

The crash brings the death toll of UK forces personnel in Afghanistan to 36 since the start of operations in November 2001. There are 5,500 British troops in the country, helping to train Afghan security forces, facilitate reconstruction and provide security.

A special MoD helpline is available on 08457 800 900 for families concerned about relatives.

Whatever the circumstances, practical accident support, compensation claim assistance and legal advice is available free of charge from our expert First Response team on freephone 0800 037 1066.

Free legal advice direct to your inbox: Ask Law Answers your compensation claim legal question.