It is with great sadness that the Air Cadet Organisation must confirm the deaths of Air Cadets Katie Jo Davies, 14, and Nikitta Walters, 13, and RAF pilots Flying Officer Hylton Price and Flight Lieutenant Andrew Marsh following an incident involving two light aircraft yesterday, Wednesday 11 February 2009.

Commandant Air Cadets, Air Commodore Ian Stewart said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the cadets and pilots at this time.

“We are offering support to all of those involved and would like to thank the emergency services for their continued help and assistance.” 

For more information see - MOD website.

Below are eulogies for the four individuals that tragically lost their lives over Porthcawl, near Bridgend in South Wales :

Cadet Katie-Jo Davies

Katie -Jo, aged 14, was a pupil of Tonyrefail Comprehensive School and had joined 1004 (Pontypridd) Squadron of the Air Training Corps just before Christmas.  Always keen to engage in cadet activities Katie quickly established herself as a popular and well liked member of the squadron.

Officer Commanding 1004 Squadron Flt Lt Karen Greenow said: “Katie-Jo had only just joined us but she had made many friends – it helped that she had her cousin and several friends already on the squadron. I am sure she would have progressed quickly. She was a very happy girl. This was her first time flying. She had been issued with her uniform and looked incredibly smart.  Her loss has affected us deeply.”  

Above: Katie-Jo Davies (left) and Nikkita Marie Walters.

Cadet Nikkita Walters

Nikkita, aged 13, was also a pupil of Tonyrefail Comprehensive School and had been a member of the Air Training Corps since June 2008 and had just passed her First Class Cadet examinations.

Officer Commanding 1004 Squadron, Flt Lt Karen Greenow said: “Nikkita was a pleasure to have on the squadron and a superb cadet. She worked hard and readily got involved in squadron duties and events.  She liked doing drill and although she was quite shy she had lots of friends. She will be sorely missed."

Air Commodore Ian Stewart, Commandant Air Cadets said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the cadets and of the pilots at this difficult time. We are offering support to all of those involved and we would like to thank the emergency services for their continuing help and assistance.”

Flying Officer Hylton Price

Flying Officer Hylton Price was born in Neath on 28 January 1946 and brought up in Pontlliw, Swansea . After graduating from Cardiff University , he was a teacher for several years before joining the RAF aged 24.  His training took him through the fast jet route joining 6 Sqn in Feb 74 flying the Phantom FGR2.  In 1980 he moved to RAF Brawdy as a Tactics Instructor and Tactical Weapons Unit Instructor flying the Hawk. 

In 1983 he converted onto the Tornado and served in Germany on 14,16 and 92 Squadrons until 1987 when he undertook a variety of ground tours, including several in the Middle East , before retiring from the RAF in 2006 as a wing commander.  A keen sportsman, he played rugby for the RAF and kept himself fit playing tennis and enjoyed fishing. He instructed cadets at 5 Air Experience Flight, RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire before moving to Wales and transferring to No. 1 Air Experience Flight, St Athan. He was married and ha d no children.

No. 1 Air Experience Flight is embedded within Wales University Air Squadron. Squadron Leader Phil Atkinson Officer Commanding   Wales University Air Squadron said: “He was a really nice guy, he was always very flexible and had such enthusiasm for aviation and for the Air Cadet Organisation. He built up a good rapport with the cadets - we will miss him greatly.”

Squadron Leader Peter Kingwill said: “He was a wonderful gentleman, such a lovely guy. His enthusiasm and keenness for flying would have rubbed off on others, particularly youngsters. He just wanted to introduce flying to other people and pass on his knowledge because he loved it so much.”

Flight Lieutenant Andy Marsh

Flight Lieutenant Andy Marsh was born on 27 April 1984 . Brought up in Vale of Glamorgan, he attended St David’s 6 th Form College in Cardiff for his A Levels.  He went on to gain a Bachelor of Laws Honours degree from Cardiff Law School . He joined the RAF on 31 July 2006.

A keen sportsman, he had a strong swimming and rugby background and enjoyed skiing and playing pool and squash.  His ambition had been to serve on the fast jet frontline which is where he was destined to imminently be posted. His nickname was FOAM, this was because he was a Flying Officer for so long and with the initials of his name it makes F O A M.

Sqn Ldr Steve Stanton, of No.1 Elementary Flying School, RAF Cranwell knew Andrew when he went through six months of flying training on the Tutor aircraft in 2007.

He said: “He excelled on his course and was selected for fast jet training.  He was the top student of his course; he stood out and was a natural pilot."

"He finished his basic fast jet training at RAF Linton and was holding at No.1 AEF, St Athan until his advanced fast jet training course began at RAF Valley .  He was selected to hold as an Air Experience Flight pilot because of his excellent flying skills.”

COMMENTS

Wg Cdr Rob Woods, CO MOD St Athan (RAF): “Our thoughts and sympathy are with all the family and friends of all those involved in this accident.  St Athan is a small but close knit Station and will continue to provide whatever support we can at this most difficult of times ."

Sqn Ldr Phil Atkinson, OC University of Wales Air Squadron: “Hylton and Andy were both popular members of the squadron whose cheerful personalities and enthusiasm for flying were infectious. It is a tragic day and my sympathies, along with those of all the Squadron, go to the friends and family of Hylton and Andy and the friends and family of both the Air Cadets, Katie and Nikita.”

Speaking at a press conference earlier today ( 12/02/09 ) at the Police Headquarters in Bridgend, Group Captain Andy Naismith said;

“Yesterday’s tragic accident took the lives of 4 members of the RAF family.  As I said yesterday, our thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of those who died. As you have heard, Katie-Jo Davies and Nikkita Walters, the two air cadets were taking part in air experience flights with the Air Experience unit based at MOD St Athan. 

"The entire RAF Family today also grieves for the loss of the RAF pilots, Flying Officer Hylton Price and Flight Lieutenant Andrew Marsh. The loss of 4 members of the RAF family is one that is felt acutely."

"The aircraft involved in yesterday’s incident were two Grob Tutor T1 training aircraft. These aircraft have been in use as an elementary flying training aircraft by the RAF since 1999.  Air Experience flights take place throughout the year and form part of the National Curriculum, wherein students perform activities outside of their routine schoolwork. The RAF is working closely with the Air Accident Investigation Branch and South Wales Police as part of a tripartite investigation." 

"An MOD Service Investigation is already underway and all the data gleaned will be shared to enable us to determine the facts which led to yesterday’s tragic accident. For this reason, you will appreciate that we cannot speculate about the causal factors which led to this accident – we must gather the facts to reach the proper conclusion.

"Members of the Emergency Services, the Environment Agency, Local Authority and the communities involved have provided unstinting support throughout last night’s bitterly cold weather and for their selfless contributions, I thank them for this and for the immense compassion everyone concerned has shown.  Our thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of those who died yesterday”. 

Defence Secretary John Hutton said:

“I was immensely saddened to hear about this tragic accident.  At this extremely difficult time, the thoughts and sympathies of all those at the MoD and across the Services are with the four families who have lost loved ones.  It is clear that the RAF pilots, Flying Officer Hylton Price and Flight Lieutenant Andrew Marsh, had a great love of the RAF and dedicated their time to sharing it with young cadets like Katie-Jo Davies and Nikkita Walters. Investigations are underway to establish the cause of this tragedy.”