ROYAL Air Force personnel deployed across the globe marked the 20th anniversary of the loss of RAF Tornado ZG710, at a memorial event in Kuwait and in Estonia by IX(B) Squadron on 23 March 2023.
In Ali Al Salem, Kuwait where the Tornado aircraft flew from during Operation Telic, members of the United States Air Force joined Royal Air Force personnel in a small ceremony at the United States memorial on the Air Base.
The poignant ceremony was led by the Wing Chaplain; Major Simpson and attended by the Commander of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, Colonel Buch, the UK Defence Attaché Captain (RN) Mulvaney and Royal Air Force and IX(B) Squadron association representative, Flight Lieutenant Standen, who read words from the families of the lost aircrew alongside the Epitaph.
On the 23 March 2003, RAF Tornado ZG710 of IX(B) Squadron, crewed by Flight Lieutenant Kevin Barry Main and Flight Lieutenant David Rhys Williams was returning to Ali Al Salem Air Base from an operational mission over Iraq. At 0248 local time (2348 hrs on 22 March GMT) the aircraft was miss-identified as a hostile anti-radiation missile and was engaged by a Patriot Air Defence Battery; tragically both members of the crew were killed instantly.
Reading on behalf the IX(B) Squadron Association, Flight Lieutenant Standen said;
“Kev and Dave, you and your families are always in our thoughts, none more so than when spring comes around every year and the flowers bloom in the country you served so bravely. RIP dear friends.”
Flight Lieutenant Standen
On behalf of Rebeca Main, Standen read;
“Treasured memories are what we hold dear, fly high Kev and keep us near.”
After the event, the readings were taken by Flight Lieutenant Standen and placed in a ‘Geocache’ style hide overlooking the aircraft dispersal IX(B) Squadron operated from, for future RAF personnel to find, read and reflect on.
Concurrently, IX(B) Squadron and RAF personnel deployed to Estonia as part of number 140 Expeditionary Air Wing held their own memorial service. In a hangar at Amari Air Base in Estonia, personnel from both the RAF and German Air Force fell silent in remembrance following a heartfelt speech delivered by Officer Commanding IX (B) Squadron, Wing Commander Rich Leask.
Wing Commander Leask said:
‘This was a poignant service that I believe encapsulated the appropriate emotions for today. The loss of ZG710 and its crew is one etched in the memory of the Squadron and something that will never be forgotten. Flight Lieutenants Kev Main and David Williams will forever be in the heart of our Squadron and will always be remembered’.
Wing Commander Leask
At the time of Op Telic, IX(B) Squadron flew Tornado GR4 and were based in at RAF Marham in Norfolk. ZG710 was the only RAF aircraft lost during the conflict. The aircraft was the second of a pair of Tornados, flying as part of a package of Coalition aircraft, operating during the early part of Operation Telic. The Squadron disbanded at RAF Marham on 14 March 2019 and was re-formed at RAF Lossiemouth, as an aggressor and QRA Squadron on 1st April 2019 flying the RAF’s Typhoon FGR4.