The flag at the RAF base at Kinloss in Scotland flies at half-mast as it continues to mourn 12 of its personnel lost in the RAF Nimrod crash in Afghanistan on Saturday. The local Church of Scotland minister has expressed his shock and grief.
Twelve of the fourteen personnel killed in the crash, near Kandahar in Afghanistan, were from 120 squadron based at the Kinloss station in Moray Firth, Scotland. A Royal Marine and an army soldier also died in the crash which has been blamed on a technical fault.
Defence Minister Des Browne called the crash a “tragic accident” as defence officials rejected claims by the Taliban that it had shot the plane down.
The small close-knit community of just a few hundred people in Kinloss remains in shock as flowers and cards reading “miss you all” were laid at the foot of the RAF entrance sign.
Rev Duncan Shaw, minister of the Church of Scotland’s Kinloss and Findhorn Parish Church, shared in the shock and grief of the local community.
Reverend Shaw said: "There is shock and disbelief.
"I am closely involved with the air force and the personnel.
"The mood is one of great sadness, not just the RAF community but the community at large, because the RAF has been in the area for more than 60 years.
"People are saddened by the loss and today in local churches people who have no connection have been expressing their loss and wanting to send their wishes."
Speaking from RAF Kinloss, Wing Commander Martin Cannard said the airmen who died were "great guys".
"They were professional guys doing an important job," he said.
"They were good friends, their families were good friends to a number of us."
The crash is the biggest single loss of British military personnel since the Falklands War and brings the number of UK servicemen killed in Afghanistan since 2001 to 36.