[R Mark Davies]

Apparently the pair lost were Mk 7s - practically brand new. The model used by us these days is the HAR Mk 4, which is an outstanding aircraft - sorry to disappoint you, but you can't blame this one on the evils of defence procurement! Instead of searching for an anti-war political angle in support of your views, perhaps you could spare a thought for the brave Allied aircrew who have already lost their lives?

Breaking news is that an RAF aircraft has now been lost and some of us face a heartbreaking, but necessary, wait for information. We're used to it - we're patient out of necessity.

In the meantime - the press keep on poking their noses in - determined to find out what type of aircraft is missing and the identoty of the aircrew... I assume so that they can let their friends in Baghdad know exactly how many aircrew they are looking for and what sort of mission they were on. Sometimes the naiivety of the press borders on criminality!

Mark