Army tribute to helicopter victim

The army recruit who died on Friday after sustaining injuries in an RAF helicopter crash will be "sorely missed", his platoon leader has said.

Private Sean Tait, 17, from Castlemilk, in Glasgow, became the third member of the armed forces to die as a result of Wednesday's crash in North Yorkshire.

He had enlisted just a month earlier and had been undergoing training in the Royal Regiment of Scotland Company of the 1st Infantry Training Battalion at the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick, since July 13.

After concluding his training Private Tait was to join The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

His platoon commander, Captain Rob Earle, of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said: "Sean was a positive and well liked member of Assaye Platoon. He never lost his Glasgow sense of humour as he adapted to Army life; a quality that served him well on the Combat Infantryman's Course. He will be sorely missed by all in his platoon."

His Company Commander, Major Neil Wright, of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said Pte Tait was "a committed and enthusiastic young recruit".

He added: "His loss has been a real blow not only to his platoon but also to the company as a whole. We have lost a real friend and professional colleague."

The other two airmen killed in Wednesday's crash were the aircraft's captain, Flight Lieutenant David Sale, and crewman Sergeant Phillip Anthony Burfoot, both from 33 squadron, based at Royal Air Force Benson in Oxfordshire.

Seven other recruits and one member of permanent staff from an infantry training centre at Catterick, all injured in the crash are said to be making steady progress and three have now been discharged from hospital.

Witnesses reported the aircraft "misfiring" before turning on to its side and crashing. It came down in a wooded area to the west of Catterick Garrison.

The MoD said the RAF helicopter had been working with the army at Catterick Garrison.

The base is the UK's largest, with 7,500 regular soldiers, 1,900 recruits and 2,000 civilian staff.

It covers 2,400 acres, with a further 20,000 acres of training land.

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