Tears and joy as squadron returns

Personnel left the Ark Royal, moored at Mounts Bay

Hundreds of Cornwall-based aircrew have been given an emotional welcome home from the Gulf.

The servicemen and women from RNAS Culdrose were among 500 flown off the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, moored off Penzance.

Families and friends at the base in Helston greeted about 300 personnel from three helicopter squadrons from the base.

Among the returning crew were members of 849 A Flight, Airborne Surveillance and Control, which lost six British aircrew and an American when two Sea King helicopters collided in mid-air in the Gulf.

Also flying ashore in 11 helicopters was 814 Squadron and 820 Squadron.

849 Squadron casualties

Lieutenant Antony King, 35

Lieutenant James Williams, 28

Lieutenant Philip West, 32

Lieutenant Marc Lawrence, 26

Lieutenant Andrew Wilson, 36

Lieutenant Philip Green, 31

US Aircrewman Tom Adams

The commanding officer of 849 Squadron, told how the squadron's return home was one of "gladness tinged with sadness".

Lieutenant Commander Mac McKenzie, 40, who was re-united with his three daughters and fiancée, said: "It's a very emotional time for all the men.

"I'm glad to bring so many of my men home after four months at sea. Sadly seven are not coming back.

Crews performed a flypast to the watching crowds

"So there are mixed feelings for all the squadron. We had our last night on the Ark Royal last night and there were tears, and a lot of emotion."

All three squadrons carried out airborne surveillance and control duties, as well as transporting personnel and equipment between coalition units day and night.

Chief Petty officer Andrew Hancock, 41, of 820 Squadron, welcomed home by his wife and three children, said: "It was quite intense once it started - a 24 hour a day operation."

Of the 849 Squadron accident he said: "We felt it a lot, because we knew the guys, even though the were a different squadron."

Everyone was in a state of shock, but you had to do your job

Wren chef Debbie Thompson

Relatives recall emotional turmoil

Reunions in pictures

His wife Andrea, 41, said it was "lonely and worrying" while her husband was away. "I am glad to have him home," she said.

She said she stopped watching the TV news after the 849 helicopters crashed. "It was too upsetting for the children," she said.

Wren chef Debbie Thompson, 25, from Rugby, serving with 820 Squadron, was on her first deployment after a year in the service.

"It was the sort of thing I did not expect ever have to do," she said. "It was not a nice feeling."

She said everyone was "distraught" when the two Sea Kings collided.

"The morale just went down straight away. Everyone was in a state of shock, but you had to do your job."

Her mother, Ryder Thompson, said: "I think she coped really well. I am proud of her, proud of them all."

The Ark Royal will be accompanied back to her Portsmouth base by the Type 42 destroyer, HMS York.

The two vessels, together with the supply ship the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Fort Victoria, are the first Royal Navy surface warships to return to the UK from Iraq.

More than 3,000 people are expected to greet their combined crews of about 850 when they disembark on Saturday.