Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher, Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson and Petty Officer Owen Green died when the Merlin Mk4 crashed in a field in Devon (Picture: MOD/BFBS composite)

Navy

Navy crash victims hailed as "cherished" members of Commando Helicopter Force

4th June 2026 at 5:31pm

The three Royal Navy personnel killed in yesterday's helicopter crash in Devon have been named as Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson, Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher and Petty Officer Owen Green.

Defence Secretary John Healey described their deaths as "truly devastating", adding that they were "dedicated and highly valued members of their squadrons who embodied the best of our Armed Forces".

Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson and Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher were part of 846 Naval Air Squadron, while Petty Officer Owen Green was part of 845 Naval Air Squadron.

Flower left at the scene of the Merlin helicopter crash in Devon (picture: PA) — Flowers left near the scene in Sourton Down, Devon, where a Royal Navy helicopter crashed in a field (Picture: PA)

Lt Fisher discovered her passion for flying while studying at Imperial College London, where she joined the Officer Training Corps and University Air Squadron before commissioning into the Royal Navy in 2019.

Her work as a Watch Keeper on Op ISOTROPE, the UK military's response to the Channel Migrant Crisis, inspired her to want to fly the Merlin Mk4, and she joined 846 Naval Air Squadron in 2025.

Lt Cmdr Chris Gayson joined the Royal Navy as a Warfare (Pilot) Officer in September 2008.

He gained his wings in Oct 2012 and served with 845 NAS flying the Sea King Mk4, which included flying in Norway, Jordan, Afghanistan and Embarked Operations. Selected for promotion to Lieutenant Commander in 2020, he delivered advanced helicopter training to RAF and Commando Helicopter Force Support Helicopter pilots before assuming the position of Operational Conversion Flight Commander on 846 NAS in July 2025.

We can confirm the names of the three Royal Navy personnel who tragically lost their lives during a helicopter training exercise on 3 June:

Lt Cdr Chris Gayson, 42, Somerset
Lt Lily-Mae Fisher, 31, Surrey
PO Owen Green, 24, Hampshire

🔗https://t.co/25RFAkJdqq pic.twitter.com/ZGSAPPntmB
— Royal Navy (@RoyalNavy) June 4, 2026

Petty Officer Owen Green joined the Royal Navy in January 2022. Following initial training at HMS Raleigh, he rapidly progressed through the ranks, achieving Leading Hand status in September 2025 before achieving his Aircrewman Wings in June 2025.

On Operation Clockwork 2026, he accumulated the highest-flying hours among his peers in demanding Arctic conditions.

Tributes have been paid to the three by Commander of Joint Aviation Command, Air Vice-Marshal Lee Turner RAF, who described them "three deeply capable and professional aviators".

Commanding Officer of Commando Helicopter Force, Colonel Will Penkman, said: "It is a tragedy that we lost three members of the CHF family yesterday.

"Cherished members of the force with bright futures ahead of them, they were all highly committed professionals infused with the Junglie spirit of the force."