MoD may destroy Mull of Kintyre Chinook crash records
 

Well, I never thought I would be posting here again so hello, and Happy New Year, to all who may remember me.

This year sees 25 years since that terrible crash and it would appear that the MoD are considering disposing of all records relating to the crash and subsequent 17 year campaign to clear Rick and Jon's name. There is an article in the Scottish Times about this (can't link, sorry).

I don't feel the need (or desire) to revisit the crash and campaign itself as I feel that everyone has rightly moved on, but am seeking support in ensuring all documentation relating to this sorry episode is retained in the National Archive. To that end, I have raised an on-line petition and would seek your support. If you feel the urge, may I also ask you to send the link / write to your MP and make them aware. The petition can be found here:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petit...cVXGrUSykC6kMc


Wording of the petition is:

My petition:

Ensure ALL records relating to the Chinook crash in 1994 are archived at Kew
The Chinook crash on the Mull of Kintyre, on 2 June 1994, resulted in the loss of 29 souls. The pilots of the Chinook were wrongly blamed for the accident, resulting in a 17 year fight to clear their names. It was eventually proved that the MoD had wrongly blamed the deceased pilots.

This 17 year miscarriage of justice brought about immense public support, several Parliamentary debates in both Houses, EDMs, reports from the National Audit Office and countless items of correspondence to, and from, the Ministry of Defence. Collectively, this is an important record of MoD, and RAF, failings and the loss of this would be detrimental to providing important learning opportunities for future military leaders.
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Please forgive my intrusion on the Forum. I assure you all that I have no intention of becoming the Irritating Sod once again! This is just a short spell back in the spotlight.
My best to you all, as always.
Brian

Welcome back

Signed - It is important that future researchers can access the details of this important event.

EG

Surely always welcome. Signed (04691).

Hi Brian! Hope all's well with you - I've also signed.

Just signed. Funny smell if they want to destroy the records of an accident that generated so much controversy.
Petition says that only 5 more signatures needed to go "live".
1066

Got this message :* - will gladly sign it when it's made available again...

"It would appear that the MoD are considering disposing of all records relating to the crash."

Now, why would they do that?

Is there any hard evidence e.g. factual statements to support these assertions, or is it hearsay and rumour?

We’re checking this petition

5 people have already supported Brian Dixon’s petition.

We need to check it meets the petition standards before we publish it.

Please try again in a few days.



More than willing to help. See you in a few days!

Current issue arises from this, in Hansard...

https://publications.parliament.uk/p...t/00626w01.htm

Lord Chalfont asked Her Majesty's Government:

• Whether any papers or documents relating to the crash of Chinook Helicopter ZD 576 have been or are being destroyed; and, if so, whether they will ensure that there is no further such destruction.[HL2738]
• Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: None of the original Board of Inquiry papers, written evidence or papers held by the branch with lead responsibility for matters concerning the crash has been destroyed. When they are eventually archived, they will be assigned a review date of 25 years, with a recommendation for permanent retention. At the 25-year point they will be examined for the suitability for transfer to the Public Record Office in accordance with the provision of the Public Records Act 1958 and 1967.
  
  26 Jun 2000 : Column WA52

But the lead branch (the Chinook Integrated Project Team) did not hold the most relevant evidence, because the Directorate of the Air Staff and Air Member Logistics had concealed it from them. The reply does not preclude destruction by the Air Staff or Air Member Logistics’ successors of that evidence - and that is what they did.

By the time of the Mull of Kintyre Review, MoD was denying the very existence of key evidence, such as the Release to Service and the policy statement that the FADEC software was safety critical. It had lied to families about both. Both documents had to be supplied to Lord Philip by campaigners.

Brian! Your presence is always welcomed and valued, even if it's a harbinger for more potential MoD misdeeds. Will also be checking back onto the petition website in a few days.

(we're prepping the house for forthcoming-retirement-related move back to Devon, and I was going through old paperwork. Found the GW1 inoculation certificates which you wisely suggested we hang onto, in direct contradiction to the 'request' from above; have always trusted your judgment :) )

Thanks everyone for the welcomes and especially for the support.
T&B, let me know when you are back in Devon and settled, I'm sure I can get the motorbike out on a sunny day and ride over that way.

I can confirm that 20 people have been acknowledged as supporting the petition before it was taken off-line for 'assessment' (don't hold your breath, I may have set a claxon off somewhere!), so thank you to those individuals. As soon as it is back on line, please sign up and get friends and family to do so too please.

Jimlad1 - the attachments should show you where I got the information from (if I can remember how to do it).

As always, many thanks all, for your support.
Brian

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....ab516042a.jpeg
Taken from the Scottish Times
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....f73b5c077.jpeg
Taken from the Scottish Times

Petition? Take out an injuction that all records are tx to Kew and are open.

Waiting to sign when possible.

Me too, and I wonder how many petitions are put on hold like this while they are checked 'for a few days'?

Good to see you still pushing back Brian Dixon! Those who might think that Mull was all done and dusted with SoS Liam Fox's statement to the HoC should ask themselves if the two deceased JO pilots blamed by the Air Rank Reviewing Officers were not Grossly Negligent, then who was? For 29 people died in this tragedy due to such Gross Negligence that has been the subject of a cover up ever since.

Another link here:-

https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/tr...year-1-8776839

Waiting to sign also!

Likewise. Too important to be swept under the table.

Lady Sylvia Hermon MP (North Down), whose late husband was RUC Chief Constable Jack Hermon, has tabled questions in the House. Well done the RUC widows.