Brothers in arms

As grieving wives, parents and close relatives of the dead gathered on the runway, the first sign of the vast aircraft bringing the servicemen home was its bright landing lights high in the misty sky.

And as the C17 landed at 12.40pm, the morning haze symbolically lifted revealing early spring sunshine in time for the start of the repatriation ceremony.

The thunderous Brize Norton-based aircraft, used instead of a Hercules because of its size, performed a low level fly-past before landing out of sight.

Families dressed in black placed protective arms around one another as they waited for the first glimpse of their loved ones.

Forty minutes after the plane landed it taxied the last few metres before finally coming to rest outside the terminal building. It met two C130 Hercules aircraft parked on the runway in honour of the victims.

Close relatives and dignitaries, including Princess Anne and defence secretary Geoff Hoon, watched the ceremony from inside a specially erected marquee on the tarmac.

The Princess, Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Lyneham and Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Corps of Signals, wore a long black coat, boots and a hat as she arrived minutes before the proceedings started.

Around 400 service personnel from RAF Lyneham, including members of 47 Squadron where five of the men were based, stood in silence as their comrades were brought home.

A drum beat from the Central Band of the RAF broke the eerie silence to signal the beginning of the stirring ceremony.

Moments later the first coffin, that of Acting Lance Corporal Steven Jones, the only soldier killed in the tragedy, was carried out of the plane.

Six bearers from his own unit, the Royal Corps of Signals, ushered the casket out of the aircraft's tail.

Off-loading was overseen by Sgt Major Billy Mott, garrison sergeant major for the London District.

Leading the salutes as each coffin was slowly lowered by its bearing party and loaded into its hearse was Warrant Officer John Duff, warrant officer for RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

Service personnel saluted as the Union Jack shrouded coffin passed on its way to a hearse, which was waiting in front of the family seating area.

As the 50-strong band played the first notes of Solemn Melody six Army bearers lowered their colleague into the hearse.

The car then drove slowly around the aircraft and off into the distance as the moving ritual started for the airmen.

One by one, the coffins were taken off the aircraft in rank order.

Each was draped in the British flag, including that of Australian Flight Lieutenant Paul Pardoel, although his home country's flag was displayed inside the marquee.

The sequence was Squadron Leader Patrick Marshall, 39; Flight Lieutenant Paul Pardoel, 35; Flight Lieutenant David Stead, 35; Flight Lieutenant Andrew Smith, 25; Master Aircrew Gary Nicholson, 42; Flight Sergeant Mark Gibson, 34; Chief Technician Richard Brown, 40; Sergeant Robert O'Connor, 38 and Corporal David Williams, 37.

At the back of the huge C17 aircraft stood The Venerable Air Vice Marshall Ron Hesketh and Chaplain General David Wilkes. They bowed their heads in respect as each coffin was lifted out. There were no formal prayers during the ceremony.

Music played included Air from Rinaldo, Elegy on the RAF March, Nimrod, Largo in G, and Beethoven's Funeral March No 1.

Wing Commander Trevor Field, London-based spokesman for the RAF, said: "This was a very sombre and solemn occasion and it is poignant that, particularly the air crews, are repatriated to their home base."

He added: "They were helping bring justice and freedom to Iraq and supporting their fellow servicemen through a very difficult occupation."

After the repatriation, families had a private meeting with the Princess Royal and Mr Hoon, before spending time with their loved ones in a special holding area at the base.

The families were the focus of the ceremony event, with even Princess Anne stepping back to make way for the relatives.

After the families left the tarmac they spent time talking to dignitaries, including the Princess, Geoff Hoon and James Gray, MP for North Wiltshire.

Mr Gray said relatives were "very pleased indeed" with the way the ceremony went as they chatted during the four hour meeting in the officers' mess.

"I think I spoke to all 10 families and the word they used more than anything was "dignified", he said.

"It was a very distinguished event and everyone was very glad the coffins came home to Lyneham.

"Obviously the families were very upset and there was a lot of grief. But at the same time there was real pride that their men had given their lives. There was no bitterness at all.

"I thought they might have been upset that it was a C17 rather than a Hercules but they weren't."

He said there was particular praise for the station commander, Group Captain Paul Oborn, who had supported the families throughout the difficult days.

"There was a lot of concern about the future, but the RAF has attached two officers to each of the families to help deal with the practicalities of death.

"The only disquiet was about the intrusive media attention.

"The way some of the tabloids and press agencies behaved was quite unacceptable. One reporter dressed as a florist and pretended to deliver a bouquet.

"But I made it quite clear in Parliament that it was not the local media."

Other VIPs attending the ceremony were: General Sir Michael Walker, Chief of Defence Staff; Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, Chief of Air Staff; Air Chief Marshal Sir Brian Burridge, CinC Strike Command; Major General Tony Raper, representing Chief of General Staff; Vice Admiral Burnell-Nugent, Second Sea Lord, representing Chief of Naval Staff; Air Marshal Glenn Torpy, Chief of Joint Operations. The Chaplains-in-Chief were the Venerable (Air Vice Marshal) Ron Hesketh RAF and Chaplain General Reverend David Wilkes. North Wiltshire MP James Gray attended as did RAF Lyneham's station commander Group Captain Paul Oborn with his wife Sarah.