30 years on from RAF Lossiemouth tragedy
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The thoughts of many are with the ten RAF Lossiemouth servicemen who died in a tragic accident 30 years ago this week.
On April 30, 1990, a Shackleton Mk2 aircraft crashed into a hill on the Isle of Harris.
Everyone on board was killed, including the commanding officer of No. 8 Squadron, Wing Commander Stephen Roncoroni.
They left left behind six widows and 12 children.
Alan Miller, who lives in Findhorn, was a Flight Lieutenant at RAF Lossimouth at the time.
He recalls: "It was dreadful period for everyone concerned.
"Those men were our colleagues and our friends.
"For the next fortnight we were attending one funeral after another."
On the day of the tragedy the Shackleton had taken off from RAF Lossiemouth amid fine Spring weather.
However, this deteriorated as the crew travelled further west on their way to RAF Benbecula.
Shrouded in cloud, the plane crashed just 30ft from the summit of the hill.
Three days days later, ten coffins were flown back to RAF Lossiemouth.
On May 31, 1990 a memorial service was held in one of the hangars from which No. 8 Squadron operated.
Mr Miller said: "As the years go by the public naturally tends to forget.
"But I think it's fitting to remind people of these men. They were doing their duty.
"It's right that they are remembered."
