Wessex helicopter victims remembered on 40th anniversary of fatal crash at RAF Akrotiri
Three Royal Air Force personnel who were killed in a helicopter crash have been remembered on the 40th anniversary of the incident at RAF Akrotiri.
Westland Wessex XS518 crashed into the sea a few minutes after leaving the airbase in Cyprus.
Master Air Load Master Peter Barwell, from 84 Squadron, died alongside Flight Lieutenant Fiona Johnstone and Corporal Martin Cook from Princess Mary's Hospital.
There to remember
A memorial service was held at 84 Squadron to mark the anniversary of the crash.
"It's really important that we come here to remember," said Padre Phil Craven, Station Padre at RAF Akrotiri.
"We're all really busy people, we do lots of things and sometimes it can be hard to take time out."
Personnel from 84 Squadron and the Station Medical Centre met for the service.
"The ones that we are here to remember are our own, and if times were different we would want someone else to take that time to remember us," added the padre.
Fortieth anniversary of crash
On 5 November 1986, Westland Wessex XS518 was stood up in the middle of the night to airlift a pregnant woman in Dhekelia to Princess Mary's Hospital.
Master Air Load Master Peter Barwell and nurses Flight Lieutenant Fiona Johnstone and Corporal Martin Cook joined the pilot for the journey to the Eastern Sovereign Base Area.
Shortly after take-off the crew had trouble shutting the cabin door, distracting the pilot who became disorientated and crashed into the sea.
The pilot managed to escape, but the rest of those on board died.
"Thankfully aircraft incidents are rare now in military flying," said Squadron Leader Steven Bradley, Officer Commanding 84 Squadron.
"But as a squadron it's important that we remember the people that have gone before us who've made the ultimate sacrifice."
Join Our Newsletter
