‘We are on fire’ – last words from RAF plane

Apr 2 2008 by Our Correspondent, South Wales Echo

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.

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.

Among those killed in the crash was Flight Sergeant Mark Gibson, 34, who was raised in Cardiff and went to schools in Rhiwbina and Llandaff.

Wiltshire Coroner David Masters, giving his opening address at the inquest 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.

Explosive-suppressant foam (ESF) which prevents fuel tanks exploding if they are hit, was not fitted to the plane.

US Air Force Hercules have had the foam fitted since the 1960s.

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.

Mr Masters promised families of the 10 victims that he would not be deflected from carrying out a “full, frank and fearless inquiry”.

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.

The inquest heard evidence from an unnamed US Army serviceman who witnessed the Hercules being hit by a “fireball” before it disappeared from view.

He said: “I believe it took no more than five seconds before the fire ball hit the centre of the plane between the two wings.”

Another unnamed US serviceman said the plane was flying at about 150ft when it was hit by “some kind of missile” causing a massive mid-air explosion.

A British serviceman, not named for security reasons, later spoke with a local farmer who witnessed the crash.

The farmer told how he heard small arms fire before seeing the Hercules come past on fire.

The inquest was to resume today.

echo.newsdesk@mediawales.co.uk