849 NAS A Flight Op Telic 22 March 2003

[Oggin Aviator]

5 years - never forgotten. (http://www.hometown.aol.co.uk/naval849/index.htm)

RIP Fellas

Oggin

[minigundiplomat]

Rest in Peace

[Magic Mushroom]

As an AWACS guy I've always held the baggers in the highest regard and I can't imagine how it must have affected such a closely knit community. It is a testament to their professionalism that 849 cracked on.

RIP guys.

[Irish Tempest]

Ditto to all the above... will see you in the flaming datum in the sky...

[Evalu8ter]

A nicer bunch of blokes you couldn't meet.

We will remember them.

[Dancing Bear]

Concur with all the above, has it been 5 years already? RIP

[VTA]

Great guys, great squadron...RIP

"Judy" Garland

[tucumseh]

Well said, Oggin.

And let us not forget Tornado ZG710. Same day.

[Oggin Aviator]

Absolutley. And the CH46 guys at the same time. RIP.

Oggin

[airborne_artist]

The 849 crash was horribly familiar with the March 6th 1981 crash when two ASW SKs collided S of the Isle of Wight.

Five aircrew were lost, including Marcus McDonald, who I joined BRNC with, and had the service number two after me.

[Oggin Aviator]

Slightly OT a_a, but wasnt that the same accident that also took the life of Lt Cdr David Roue? Although Lt Cdr Roue was serving in the ASW world he had transferred from the AEW world with the demise of RN FW AEW in the late 70's.

The Roue Trophy is awarded annually (in Lt Cdr Roue's memory) to the best ASaC Student of the preceeding year - His widow Gill still lives close to Culdrose and remains a firm friend of the Bag community, attending many Squadron events.

Oggin

[airborne_artist]

OA

Sadly, yes, the casualties were (from here (http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1980-89.htm)):

BATEMAN, Robert W, (rank not listed), C026076V LITTLETON, Paul, (rank not listed), C017562E
MARCHMENT, Ian J, (rank not listed), D146502M
MCDONALD, Marcus H, (rank not listed), C026317N
ROUE, David F, (rank not listed), C018617M


Three survived.

[Oggin Aviator]

A sad day - believe they were doing HCA's at night in opposite patterns, although I stand to be corrected. RIP.

Oggin

[Hardly Worth it]

I think you'll find that the two aircraft were doing simultaneous approaches to the carrier in foggy conditions, I'm sure it happened early morning too.......

RIP to them

[spheroid]

Concur....It was just before lunchtime..... ship (Invincible) had just sailed for a trip to the Med....both aircraft doing HCA's / Circuits in fog. Sad, sad day.


As for the baggies....


RIP Stretch.... a top bloke.

[anotherthing]

Concur - RIP Stretch, a nicer bloke you could never hope to meet

[nunquamparatus]

Remember clearly the phone call from best mate on 849 B Flight - still can't believe Phil Green, Stretch, Tony and co all gone. This sort of stuff makes no sense to me. Those who have seen the remains of the aircraft in the hangar at Yeovilton (a sadly full hangar) will, I'm sure, have been as affected as I.

My only hope is they are in the great ACRB in the sky, which serves ice-cold beer AND you never get whinged at by the flat-top's pusser about how many bacon sarnies you're eating and how flying finished four hours ago......................... :(

[OCDave]

Rest in peace gents.

[bakseetblatherer]

Man I can't beleive that was five years ago. Remember seeing the news come through on Sky while in PSAB. Stomach lurch :sad: and latter finding out that I knew a few of them, fond (fuzzy) memories of boozing with Stretch in the Datum...which I understand is also gone...
RIP guys, thinking of you and your families

[Matt Skrossa]

AA, thanks for listing the 820 guys from 6 Mar 1981, I have added the ranks and specialisation from your link:

BATEMAN, Robert W, S/Lt, C026076V Pilot
LITTLETON, Paul, Lt C017562E Observer
MARCHMENT, Ian J, LACMN D146502M Aircrewman
MCDONALD, Marcus H, S/lt C026317N Pilot
ROUE, David F Lt Cdr (and SOBS 820) C018617M Observer

For info the first 4 were in one aircraft and Dave Roue was in the other. Sadly the only bodies recovered were of Bob and Marcus.

I remember hearing of the 849 accident five years ago and feeling the same sadness and sense of loss I had felt back in 1981 RIP.