GUERNSEY’S Own 201 Squadron has cancelled its Battle of Britain Week visit following the crash in Afghanistan on Saturday of a Nimrod from a squadron at the same RAF base. The Bailiff, Geoffrey Rowland, spoke yesterday of his deep sympathy for the Kinloss community.

Mr Rowland said that 120, the squadron from which the aircraft came, and 201 worked together and the crews would have been very close.

‘We are all shocked because of our close relationship with the 201 crews, but cannot imagine the shock and devastation both in the RAF base and the small Kinloss community in the town on the Moray Firth,’ he said.

‘The station has lost 12 brave airmen, whatever may have been the cause of the crash.’

He added that the Nimrod was operating in a potentially dangerous support role in an active war zone which would have required bravery of a high order.

An RAF flag was raised and lowered to half-mast on the SeaGuernsey mast in tribute.

‘Given the size of the aircraft, if it is lost then the impact is going to be devastating in terms of loss of life,’ said Mr Rowland.

Kinloss station commander Group Captain Chris Birks was having to cope with the tragedy just weeks before retirement.

He is a former 201 Squadron commander and came to Guernsey in that capacity in 1999 for the 60th anniversary of its link with the island.

Mr Rowland said Kinloss had many tasks to concentrate on in the aftermath of the tragedy.

It is supporting the spouses, parents, children and friends of those who died. It needs to maintain morale in the base and the community. It needs to redeploy an aircraft and men and cope with the recovery of the bodies and repatriate them.

‘In light of that, it is not surprising that 201 has cancelled its intended visit. For all of us, it is more than understandable,’ he said.

A Nimrod and crew were scheduled to take part in the air display.

The annual trip would also have seen them attend a reception at the squadron’s museum at Castle Cornet, another in the States chamber and also a dinner party hosted by Mr Rowland and his wife, Diana.

‘We look forward to their next visit because for them they take it as a opportunity to relax and now we can more than understand why.’

Royal Air Forces’ Association Guernsey branch president Alan Brunger expressed his sympathy and said that the rest of the air show would go according to plan.