Air India Anniversary

[Doc]

Today is the 24th anniversary of the Air India disaster off the South West coast on the
23rd of June 1985. I attended the memorial service in Ahakista in West Cork this morning. A deeply moving and forgiving occasion; all these years later it is still attended by the families of those lost on that most awful of days. The families I spoke to this morning are all still extremely grateful for the work of the Navy that day in recovering their loved ones and so allowing them to grieve and move on. Well done to all concerned.

[golden rivet]

well done doc it is in the history books now but a terrible time to look back on ...

[Goldie fish]

Did anyone ever serve real time for it in the end? I seem to remember the main guy who was arrested being released on appeal (possibly politically motivated) eventually.

[hptmurphy]

While those who were awarded medals for the actions for the days events are often placed on pedestals , we often forget the guys who did equally as much on the Aisling that day.

Those persons deserve equal respect.


A job well done Doc.

[Doc]

Did anyone ever serve real time for it in the end? I seem to remember the main guy who was arrested being released on appeal (possibly politically motivated) eventually.

I'm not 100% on this one, I know it became the longest running case in Canadian Legal history, at one point I even got interviewed by the Mounties ! The RCMP ( Mounties) were there this morning and one of them did say it was ongoing. One of the relatives made a speech and if I’m not mistaken I’m sure she said that the guy who made the bombs, the other one went off in Tokyo Airport and killed two baggage handlers, just got released. My overall impression is that the case isn’t closed and nobody has ever done any “real” time for the crime.

[Galway hooker11]

Air India

I think the "Bombings" were to coincide with Sikh independence day, as far as I know there's been one conviction, I also recall reading some years ago that a major suspect was spotted at a train station in Delhi?? the police gave chase only to discover he had just dropped a couple of "Cyanide tabs" I remember this making radio news here. It was the largest airborne tragedy pre 9-11. ever since the Air India disaster suitcases are only allowed to fly with a "passenger" on board, amazing to think how much lower a "level" of security existed in the world then..... a strange day indeed.

[pmtts]

Did anyone ever serve real time for it in the end? I seem to remember the main guy who was arrested being released on appeal (possibly politically motivated) eventually.

There is a follow up on this Wiki link. Looks like only one guy served 5 years in connection to the bombing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_India_Flight_182

[Test Pilot]

While those who were awarded medals for the actions for the days events are often placed on pedestals , we often forget the guys who did equally as much on the Aisling that day.

Those persons deserve equal respect.


A job well done Doc.

Including one on this thread who received a well deserved medal for the long hours he spent in the water, recovering body parts.

Well deserved, Galway Hooker11 and M.M.

[hptmurphy]

On that note T.B and Capt J.Robinson also deserve a mention.

Must be remember that these guys were just the guys there on the day,w weren't picked for the job.

The divers were specialist but had no extra ordinary training to have put them in the firing line.Diving would have been part of their normal everyday job, nothing could prepare them for what they did.
'
The gemini Cox'n Terry Browne was just an ordinary 'joe bloggs' a seaman doing what he would have done on any patrol...just the boat driver.

And Robinson the Capt.. the difference here that he wasn't of the cadet school backround and hadn't even started his career in the NS.he took command of a situation way beyond what he could ever have been trained for.

G H 11 was the most unassuming guy you could meet, was a training division NCO in my day a very fair decent guy..

M.M. was a born dyed in the wool no nonsense PO seaman with a wild streak.

If you lined these guys up with the rest of the NS you certainly wouldn't have picked them out as 'hero types' Just heads who were prepared to do something extra ordinary on the day.

Words fail to detail what that crew experienced, the medals not enough but there is no higher honour.

Couldn't say if I would have been able to do the same thing had I been in their shoes but they weren't that much older than I and certainly never dreamed of the situation they found themselves in.

[hedgehog]

I always thought a lot more DSM's should have been handed out

we should look twoards something like a Unit citation

especially when in situations like this

where the whole Unit served and gave beyond the call of duty

[Doc]

Including one on this thread who received a well deserved medal for the long hours he spent in the water, recovering body parts.

Well deserved, Galway Hooker11 and M.M.

Well said, couldn't agree more.

[sofa]

News papers at the time were reporting sharks in the area attracted by the bodies. ?

[blaisec]

News papers at the time were reporting sharks in the area attracted by the bodies. ?

Thats true, part of the reason the D.S.M,s were given to the Gemini boat crew I would think.

[Doc]

Thats true, part of the reason the D.S.M,s were given to the Gemini boat crew I would think.

Galway Hooker11 would have more info on that, the sharks that is, I believe. Though if he doesn't want to relive the memories here I can fully understand. A truly exceptional job done by the boat crew that day.

[Goldie fish]

I'm sure the modern members of the NS will be in awe that the NS even used a Gemini... It was only after that tragedy, and the use of them aboard Eithne, that the wisdom of the RIB instead of the all rubber gemini was realised.