The three Royal Navy service members who died when their helicopter crashed into a field in Devon on Wednesday have been named as Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher, 31, Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson, 42, and Petty Officer Owen Green, 24.
The Merlin Mk4 helicopter crashed at Sourton Down, near Okehampton, just before 4am on Wednesday during a training exercise, leaving the aircraft completely destroyed. Defence Secretary John Healey described all three as “dedicated and highly valued members of their squadrons who embodied the best of our Armed Forces”.
Lieutenant Fisher, Britain’s only female commando, was based in Yeovil, Somerset, and joined the Royal Navy in May 2019. Her family said: “Lily-Mae was an extraordinary woman, daughter, sister, and partner. To say she was full of life is an understatement.” Lieutenant Commander Gayson joined the Royal Navy as a Warfare (Pilot) Officer in September 2008 and was due to become Operational Conversion Flight Commander on 846 NAS in July 2025. His family described him as “an extremely kind and gentle family man”. Petty Officer Green, a rising star who achieved his Aircrewman Wings in 2025, was described by his family as “a caring and devoted son, brother, grandson, and partner”.
Colonel Will Penkman, Commanding Officer of Commando Helicopter Force, said: “It is a tragedy that we lost three members of the CHF family yesterday. Cherished members of the force with bright futures ahead of them, they were all highly committed professionals infused with the Junglie spirit of the force.”
