Chinook - Still Hitting Back 3 (Merged)

[meadowbank]

Good News! The operator was at Prestwick, not Aldegrove, and so we may yet get the answer on that code.

Having now checked the map, Prestwick Airport is about 45 miles from the end of the Mull, so no operator there could have seen an IFF code either. As you can see, it's not about nobody being bothered to check the IFF code, but simply that we will never know what squawk was in use, the code found in the wreckage may or may not be the one that ZD576 was 'squawking' and we have categoric statements that ZD576 was not capable of deriving range from an IFF 'beacon' in the way you describe. Please now let this particular hypothesis rest, as bidden by several posters already.

[Brian Dixon]

Hi everyone,
Well, it looks like the Campaign is set to continue for a little while longer! I'm game if the MoD are!! (You'd think they'd have got the message by now)

Might I ask our supporters in the UK to write to their newly elected Member of Parliament, congratulate them on their (re) election, and point out the injustice of the verdict of the Reviewing Officers of the Chinook Board of Inquiry. Please ask them to contact Mr James Arbuthnot MP, the Chair of the Mull of Kintyre Group, to register their support.

To our supporters outside of the UK, might I ask that you write the Prime Minister to express your concerns?

Thank you.

At a recent meeting of the Campaign Group, it was recognised that the support that you all give to the Cook and Tapper families is not only very much appreciated, it is vital. Rick's brother, Chris, came up with the idea of keeping our supporters updated of Campaign developments by way of e-mail (should they so wish). If you would like to be included in this, please send Chris an E-Mail to: [email protected]

If you are in the UK, it would be useful if you could include your constituency area. That allows us to then target particular MPs. If you are outside of the UK, then please let us know which country you are from. There is, of course, no obligation for you to disclose that information, if you don't wish to.

As always, we are truly grateful for your support.
My best to you all, as always.
Brian

"Justice has no expiry date" - John Cook

[walter kennedy]

But an operator did witness the radar track - patience, it has been 10 years and it is hard to follow up.
By the way, an HC2 (like ZD576) could easily plug in the requisite on board module to give range and approximate bearing to the portable units - as described previously in some detail and as in widespread use since then - some one just had to make one available with a bit of justification ...

[walter kennedy]

And when I said "Prestwick", I meant the centre covering the Scottish Sector (Atlantic House?) located at Prestwick which receives data from several remote radar sites, military and civil, mainly secondary, including NI and the Western Isles let alone those on the mainland.
I can't imagine what you meant by describing Prestwick's location as I am sure you would have known about the centre.

[HectorusRex]

Blair has announced his new cabinet.
Buff Hoon is now Commons Leader.
Dr John Reid is now "Defence"
Full list as published by BBC.

The new Cabinet
Tony Blair has announced the first Cabinet of his third term as prime minister.

PRIME MINISTER
Tony Blair


DEPUTY PM AND FIRST SECRETARY OF STATE
John Prescott


CHANCELLOR
Gordon Brown


CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
Lord Falconer


CHIEF WHIP
Hilary Armstrong


COMMONS LEADER
Geoff Hoon


COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
David Miliband


CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Tessa Jowell


DEFENCE
Dr John Reid


DUCHY OF LANCASTER
John Hutton


EDUCATION AND SKILLS
Ruth Kelly


ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Margaret Beckett


FOREIGN SECRETARY
Jack Straw


HEALTH
Patricia Hewitt


HOME SECRETARY
Charles Clarke



INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Hilary Benn


LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS
Baroness Amos


NORTHERN IRELAND
Peter Hain


PRODUCTIVITY, ENERGY AND INDUSTRY
Alan Johnson


TRANSPORT
Alistair Darling


TREASURY CHIEF SECRETARY
Des Browne


WITHOUT PORTFOLIO
Ian McCartney


WORK AND PENSIONS
David Blunkett

[Brian Dixon]

Dear friends,
it is with a very heavy heart that I deeply regret to announce the passing of Rick's father, Captain John Cook.

John passed away peacefully during the afternoon of Tuesday 10 May, following a courageous battle against his illness. Even at the end, John was discussing campaign strategy with Chris.

It was, and always will be, a privilege to have known John. His dignity and integrity were without question, despite the treatment he sometime received from others. It is to his credit, and their shame, that he rose above it all and focussed his attentions on clearing the name of not only his own son, Rick, but that of Rick's fellow pilot, Jon Tapper.

In due course, John's son, Chris, will pick up the reins of the Cook campaign. He knows he has the support of many.

The Cook family has lost a loving partner/father/grandfather. Aviation has lost a pioneer. Many, many people have lost a true friend. The campaign has lost a giant.

Funeral arrangements will be made public if the Cook family wish them to be known.

Rest in peace my dear friend. You have been an inspiration, and you have earned your rest.

God bless.
Brian

"Justice has no expiry date" - John Cook

[BOAC]

I'm sure this thread will fill rapidly with condolences for the loss of a great campaigner for justice. What a dreadful shame he died before the verdict was corrected. The effort must be continued.

RIP

[Tandemrotor]

I would like to echo everything Brian has said.

It is to John's eternal credit that anyone stepping into his shoes, for the purposes of the campaign, would feel daunted by his energy, determination, and legacy.

Chris Cook is well up to the task ahead, and John would expect no less than our redoubled support for his sons in these difficult times.

Now there is another reason we must not fail.

God bless you JC.

[PPRuNe Pop]

That is very sad news indeed. Condolences to all the family.

I met him only once but I was impressed with his determination for the justice he sought for his son and for Jon.

RIP sir.

[ShyTorque]

Very sorry to hear this.

I add my condolences, especially in view of this unresolved travesty of justice against his son.

I met John just once, at Rick's course Graduation at Shawbury. A quiet, modest, professional man, despite his wealth of experience.

[antenna]

Captain John D. Cook was a giant of a man. I met him because of Rick's death.
It can never be adequately told how grave an injury losing his son was to him. The added insult of the gross negligence finding made him burn with anger.
But John was never a bitter man, never one to leave humour and a Scotch far from hand.
He was a gentle gentleman and as Brian mentions, an aviation pioneer.
By the time of his death John was exhausted by the fight but deeply appreciative of all that everyone had done and continues to do to clear Rick and Jon's name.
It was odd that I grew to love John through such a tragedy and such a loss but he was my hero. A man who knew what honour was and who now we all honour.
Rest John, Rest.

[pulse1]

Nice to see the funeral of John Cook well covered in CH4 news this evening, along with a short interview with Chris Cook. It also coincided with an announcement by the Conservatives that the verdict of gross negligence will be revoked when they come into power.

Is this likely to put any pressure on Blair to act sooner rather than later?

[Smoketoomuch]

Yes, C4 covered it well, they were the only ones that did.
Re: overturning the verdict, didn't Labour promise the same just prior to coming to power in '97?

[Brian Dixon]

It was a very moving service, but also a very fitting tribute to Captain John Cook. About 200 mourners were there to say farewell to a loved one, former collegue and dear friend. People travelled from far and wide to say their farewells, such was the effect of John on their lives.

Captain Omar Malik gave an excellent address, recounting amongst other things, John's early days in aviation. Thank you, Omar, for making me laugh instead of shedding a tear.

It was, indeed, a wonderful tribute to a wonderful man who will be sorely missed. John's son, Chris should be congratulated on organising such a great send off for his father. I am sure that John was looking down on us celebrating his life, his arm over Rick's shoulder, approving of all he saw.

Thanks also to Channel 4 for their support and coverage of the funeral, and thanks should also go to the Conservative Party for having the courage and integrity to announce their intention to overturn the verdict.

I doubt it will put any pressure on Mr Blair, but I challenge him to do the same as David Davis' statement. If you haven't seen or heard David Davis' statement, you might like to check it out here

My dear friend John is now at rest, but his son Chris now takes up the Cook fight. He is more than up to the job and I assure him that he has my absolute support.

Thank you all for your support and for your kind words these past few days. It has been a great help.

My best, as always,
Brian

"Justice has no expiry date" - John Cook

[Ian Corrigible]

Tories vow to overturn Chinook verdict

From Channel 4 News.

The Chinook crash in 1984 was the RAF's biggest peace time disaster. Tories vow to overturn Chinook verdict

In a Channel 4 News exclusive, the Tories have said they are prepared to overturn the "gross negligence" verdict against two RAF pilots who died in the 1994 Chinook helicopter crash.

It was the RAF's biggest ever peace-time disaster that killed 25 senior intelligence officers. Shadow home secretary David Davis told Channel Four News: "Tory Party policy on this is now clear. We will take the evidence that persuaded senior committees of the Commons and the Lords, and which persuaded a Sheriff in Scotland, to exonerate these pilots.

"We will then put that evidence in front of a High Court Judge and then we will abide by that judge's decision. In that way, justice will at last be done".

On June 2, 1994, Chinook Mk 2 ZD576 crashed into the Mull of Kintyre. An RAF Board of Inquiry ruled the two deceased pilots, Jonathan Tapper and Rick Cook, were guilty of "gross negligence" - equivalent to the civilian charge of manslaughter.

That verdict was reached despite the findings of a Scottish Fatal Accident Inquiry, which was unable to blame the pilots.

Since then, the RAF's verdict has also been challenged by inquiries conducted by the Commons Public Accounts Committee (which said the Ministry of Defence was guilty of "unwarrantable arrogance"), a specially-convened Lords Select Committee and an inquiry by the Royal Aeronautical Society - all of which pointed to serious defects in the software system controlling the Chinook's engines.

When asked why the RAF and the MOD still refuse to exonerate the deceased pilots, Mr Davis said: "Frankly, this is impossible to understand. Both the Secretary of State at the time of the crash, Malcolm Rifkind, and the Prime Minister of the day, John Major, have looked at the evidence after the event.

"They have both decided they were wrong, and they have changed their minds. I cannot understand why today's Labour government won't come to the same conclusion, and let justice be done for these deceased pilots".

News of the Conservatives' policy shift comes on the same day as the funeral of Capt John Cook - father of Rick Cook.

A former RAF pilot himself, Captain Cook has spent the last 10 years at the forefront of the campaign to clear the names of his son, and of Flt Lt Tapper.

His funeral, held at Winchfield, Hampshire, was attended by numerous members of the military and civilian air establishment. After the RAF, Capt Cook flew for British Airways - where he ended his career as a Concord Instructor.

Speaking outside the Church, Chris Cook, his son, who is also a pilot, said: "My father fought tirelessly, throughout his last 10 years, in a bid to overturn the disgraceful verdict against my brother, Rick, and Flt Lt Tapper.

"Sadly, we have now lost him. But the fight will go on. We will not stop here. We know we are right - there is no evidence to blame these dead pilots. We will continue to campaign for justice, with more vigour, because my father has gone".

Now that the Conservatives have shifted their policy on this crash, senior party insiders have indicated opposition day debates may be used to raise in Paraliament the question of why the government and the Ministry of Defence have ignored the findings of two senior Parliamentary Inquiries.

[Brian Dixon]

Hi everyone,
you may recall a few pages ago (102), I wrote to express my dismay that the official RAF website carried the article written by Mr Wratten, where he sets out to justify why he blamed Jon and Rick.

Following a letter from Mike Tapper, Jon's father, the webmaster has (in my humble opinion) rightly pulled the article from the site.

The explanation for posting the opinion in the first place was that it would be of interest to RAF personnel. Mike has responded by suggesting that a responsive article written by Mr Mike Ramsden FRAeS be published on the website, and allowed similar 'web time' as the first document - say five years?

I doubt it will happen, but perhaps if several people write to the RAF Historical Branch and ask them to publish Mr Ramsden's response, something may well happen.

Doubt it, but it will give them something else to think about!

My best, as always.
Brian

"Justice has no expiry date" - John Cook

[Arkroyal]

Just returned to the thread from holiday.

How sorry I am to hear of Captain Cook's death.

My sincere thoughts are belatedly with the Cook family.



Twinact:

I don't believe I said limitations were 'inconveniences', your words. This was in the context of Arkroyal's earlier quote of 'another escape route that simply did not exist'

I stand by what I said. It simply didn't. Read back to find the great Lord Wratten's edicts about how he intende to deal with those who exceeded limits (I'd find the reference if I had time).

The culture of fear he brought to Strike command does him no credit.

[Twinact]

Hmm,

The wrath of Bungalow Bill or a hillside - I know which I'd fear most.

[Arkroyal]

Easily said with 20/20 hindsight

[Tandemrotor]

Twinact's speciality!