Accident In The Navy

A coroner will hear evidence on the incident that caused the death of six servicemen, the six servicemen from a Cornwall air base where killed when two helicopters collided on active service in the Gulf.

The Oxford hearing investigating this accident in the Navy will hear detail of maintenance, training and safety procedures. Part of the Royal Navy's 849 Squadron the helicopter had been undertaking surveillance in the al-Faw peninsula.

The men who died were Lincolnshire; Antony King, 35, from Helston; Philip West, 32, from Budock Water; James Williams, 28, from Falmouth, all Cornwall; Andrew Wilson, 36, from Exeter, Devon, Lieutenants Philip Green, 30, from Caythorpe, and Marc Lawrence, 26, from Westgate-on-Sea, Kent. Lt Thomas Mullen Adams, 27-year-old, of the US Navy was also on board.

In a statement the squadron's commanding officer said: "The eyes of the fleet may have dimmed briefly but they remain open, alert and ever vigilant. To our fallen comrades from 849 A Flight we say: Rest in peace in the knowledge that your professionalism, dedication and ultimate sacrifice will never go unrecognised or be forgotten."