In a simple, dignified ceremony, the bodies of the four Air Corps men killed in Tramore on Friday were carried across the tarmac at Waterford regional airport on Saturday before making their final journey to Baldonnel.
The bodies had remained overnight at Waterford Regional Hospital, where a short service was conducted by two Army chaplains, Father Michael Murphy and Father Dick Marnell, both of the Southern Command.
It was from here the men had taken off on Thursday night for what should have been a routine search-and-rescue operation. But, with the mission successfully completed, dense fog prevented them from landing at the airport on their return, forcing them into the ill-fated attempt to land at Tramore beach, 4 km away.
In a ceremony conducted with full military honours, the coffins were conveyed past a guard of honour which included many of those who had taken part in the search for the missing helicopter on Friday morning.
The guard of honour also included the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith; Brig Gen Dave Taylor, general officer commanding Southern Command; and the Ministers of State, Mr Martin Cullen and Mr Hugh Byrne. The small group of relatives present included Mr Tony and Mrs Mary Baker from Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, whose son, Capt Mick Baker (28), died in the crash.
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