Graham and Mick,
There is little doubt that had action been taken by the RAF following the SCP hot pipe damage to XV227, Ben and the rest of Crew 3 would still be here. My point is that, as far as I am aware, BAe did not recommend isolating the SCP, they recommended bomb bay fire suppression be considered. If their recommendation had been implemented the outcome would, sadly, have been the same.
Jimmy Jones asserted that if BAe's advice had been heeded by the RAF the accident would not have happened. Unless BAe also recommended fire protection for the No. 7 tank dry bay, or isolation of the SCP, the accident would still have happened.
Nevertheless, the RAF could have prevented the accident and are guilty of negligence.