Royal Navy crew killed in helicopter crash named
Three members of the Royal Navy who died in a helicopter crash during a training exercise have been named.
The crew were Lt Cdr Chris Gayson, 42, Lt Lily-Mae Fisher, 31, who was Britain’s only female Royal Navy commando, and Petty Officer Owen Green, 24, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed. All three were based at RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset.
Their families all paid tribute, while the military described them as “deeply capable and professional aviators” and “cherished members” of the Commando Helicopter Force.
Gayson, Fisher and Green died on board a Merlin Mk4 helicopter that crashed at about 03:45 BST on Wednesday near Okehampton, Devon.
Gayson’s family said he was “an extremely kind and gentle family man who loved his entire family dearly”.
The family of Fisher said she was an “an extraordinary woman”, while Green’s family said he was a “caring and devoted son, brother, grandson, and partner to Iona, whom he loved and cherished”.
The MoD said Fisher was on her final assessment of flying training when she was “tragically killed”. It said she was due to be awarded her Pilot’s Wings this month.
