Family tribute to Kinloss airmen
Most of the men were based at RAF Kinloss.
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 Martin Bell; Flight Lt Steven Johnson
A relative of one of the RAF Kinloss airmen who died in a Nimrod crash in Afghanistan has paid tribute to a man who "died doing what he loved".
Sgt Benjamin Knight's older brother Andy said he had wanted to help the people of Afghanistan.
Military and civilian personnel held a service at the base where prayers were said and a one-minute silence observed.
Twelve of the 14 men killed in the crash on Saturday were based at RAF Kinloss in Moray.
Mr Knight said: "On behalf of my family and Ben's fiancee and everyone who knew him I just want to say a few words about my little brother.
"Sgt Ben Knight - or Tapa as he was known to his friends - was a loving son, brother, fiancée, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend.
"Everything Ben did, he did with dignity and with bravery and with an energy for life that touched everyone that he met. And he represented vitality and strength and freedom.
"He loved flying and he died doing what he loved and what he believed in to ensure that the people of Afghanistan can enjoy the same freedom that he did.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the other families and friends of Ben's fellow crew members.
"As a family we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the members of staff at the RAF who've helped us through this and supported us through this difficult time."
RAF Kinloss station commander Group Captain Chris Birks said all non-essential flights, not including search and rescue, had been grounded on Monday for a day of mourning as a result of the Nimrod loss.
Flowers were laid at RAF Kinloss in tribute to the lost crew
The small Moray community is beginning the healing process, with counselling being offered to both young and old.
Support will be offered at six local schools where families have been affected.
Alistair Farquhar, head of educational resource services at Moray Council, said there were several pupils aged between six and their early teens who had lost their fathers in the tragedy.
He said: "Many of them have attended school today as their families are endeavouring to keep some sort of normality."
He said of the crash: "It appears this has been a technical failure of some sort which, perhaps, is slightly easier to deal with than had it been an act of war or an act of terrorism.
"Our condolences go to the families at this sad time and we will support them in any way we can."
The Nimrod MR2 came down on Saturday, killing 12 air personnel from 120 Squadron based at RAF Kinloss, a Royal Marine and a soldier. An inquiry is under way, with a technical fault so far being blamed.
'Difficult time'
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 and Flt Sgt Adrian Davies.
Also named were Sergeant Knight, whose brother paid tribute, Sgt John Joseph Langton and Sgt Gary Paul Quilliam.
The soldier who died was Lance Corporal Oliver Simon Dicketts from the Parachute Regiment and the Royal
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PM defiant after military deaths
RAF Kinloss has paid tribute to its servicemen
The UK must "stand firm" against the global terrorist threat, Tony Blair has said in the wake of the deaths of three more British soldiers.
The PM said countries like Afghanistan should not be allowed to become training grounds for terrorism again.
One soldier lost his life in a suicide attack in Kabul while two were killed in a roadside bomb near Basra, Iraq.
Mr Blair said Britons should be proud of its "capable, committed and dedicated" armed forces.
The latest casualties follow the deaths of 14 servicemen killed when their aircraft came down in Afghanistan on Saturday.
Amid ongoing criticism of the deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, Mr Blair said: "It's so important for us to make sure we stand firm in Afghanistan and stop that country being a training ground for the export of terrorism around the world.
"We should be very grateful and very proud of the fact that Britain's armed forces are prepared to stand up to this threat."
'Childish nonsense'
Mr Blair also made reference to the death of a British tourist, shot by a gunman in the Jordanian capital Amman on Monday.
"The global terrorist threat, which is trying to stop these countries getting on their feet or to kill vulnerable, innocent people, like has happened today in Jordan, is aimed to make us lose heart and make us fearful about standing up for what is right," Mr Blair said.
"Our response has to be to stand firm."
Meanwhile, a day of mourning has taken place at RAF Kinloss, in Moray, following the loss of one of its aircraft in Afghanistan.
Twelve of the 14 men killed in the crash on Saturday were based there.
The Ministry of Defence said the British soldier killed in the suicide bombing was from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland.
A further three soldiers were injured.
The latest fatality brings the death toll of UK forces personnel in Afghanistan to 37 since the start of operations in November 2001.
news.bbc.co.uk
Most of the men were based at RAF Kinloss.
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 Martin Bell; Flight Lt Steven Johnson
A relative of one of the RAF Kinloss airmen who died in a Nimrod crash in Afghanistan has paid tribute to a man who "died doing what he loved".
Sgt Benjamin Knight's older brother Andy said he had wanted to help the people of Afghanistan.
Military and civilian personnel held a service at the base where prayers were said and a one-minute silence observed.
Twelve of the 14 men killed in the crash on Saturday were based at RAF Kinloss in Moray.
Mr Knight said: "On behalf of my family and Ben's fiancee and everyone who knew him I just want to say a few words about my little brother.
"Sgt Ben Knight - or Tapa as he was known to his friends - was a loving son, brother, fiancée, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend.
"Everything Ben did, he did with dignity and with bravery and with an energy for life that touched everyone that he met. And he represented vitality and strength and freedom.
"He loved flying and he died doing what he loved and what he believed in to ensure that the people of Afghanistan can enjoy the same freedom that he did.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the other families and friends of Ben's fellow crew members.
"As a family we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the members of staff at the RAF who've helped us through this and supported us through this difficult time."
RAF Kinloss station commander Group Captain Chris Birks said all non-essential flights, not including search and rescue, had been grounded on Monday for a day of mourning as a result of the Nimrod loss.
Flowers were laid at RAF Kinloss in tribute to the lost crew
The small Moray community is beginning the healing process, with counselling being offered to both young and old.
Support will be offered at six local schools where families have been affected.
Alistair Farquhar, head of educational resource services at Moray Council, said there were several pupils aged between six and their early teens who had lost their fathers in the tragedy.
He said: "Many of them have attended school today as their families are endeavouring to keep some sort of normality."
He said of the crash: "It appears this has been a technical failure of some sort which, perhaps, is slightly easier to deal with than had it been an act of war or an act of terrorism.
"Our condolences go to the families at this sad time and we will support them in any way we can."
The Nimrod MR2 came down on Saturday, killing 12 air personnel from 120 Squadron based at RAF Kinloss, a Royal Marine and a soldier. An inquiry is under way, with a technical fault so far being blamed.
'Difficult time'
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 and Flt Sgt Adrian Davies.
Also named were Sergeant Knight, whose brother paid tribute, Sgt John Joseph Langton and Sgt Gary Paul Quilliam.
The soldier who died was Lance Corporal Oliver Simon Dicketts from the Parachute Regiment and the Royal
--------------------------------------------------------
PM defiant after military deaths
RAF Kinloss has paid tribute to its servicemen
The UK must "stand firm" against the global terrorist threat, Tony Blair has said in the wake of the deaths of three more British soldiers.
The PM said countries like Afghanistan should not be allowed to become training grounds for terrorism again.
One soldier lost his life in a suicide attack in Kabul while two were killed in a roadside bomb near Basra, Iraq.
Mr Blair said Britons should be proud of its "capable, committed and dedicated" armed forces.
The latest casualties follow the deaths of 14 servicemen killed when their aircraft came down in Afghanistan on Saturday.
Amid ongoing criticism of the deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, Mr Blair said: "It's so important for us to make sure we stand firm in Afghanistan and stop that country being a training ground for the export of terrorism around the world.
"We should be very grateful and very proud of the fact that Britain's armed forces are prepared to stand up to this threat."
'Childish nonsense'
Mr Blair also made reference to the death of a British tourist, shot by a gunman in the Jordanian capital Amman on Monday.
"The global terrorist threat, which is trying to stop these countries getting on their feet or to kill vulnerable, innocent people, like has happened today in Jordan, is aimed to make us lose heart and make us fearful about standing up for what is right," Mr Blair said.
"Our response has to be to stand firm."
Meanwhile, a day of mourning has taken place at RAF Kinloss, in Moray, following the loss of one of its aircraft in Afghanistan.
Twelve of the 14 men killed in the crash on Saturday were based there.
The Ministry of Defence said the British soldier killed in the suicide bombing was from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland.
A further three soldiers were injured.
The latest fatality brings the death toll of UK forces personnel in Afghanistan to 37 since the start of operations in November 2001.
news.bbc.co.uk