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.

In a tribute, her family said: “To say she was full of life is an understatement: she took every opportunity to push her limits, achieve more, and bring out the best in those around her.

“We are so proud of everything she accomplished. She has left an immeasurable hole in our lives, and in all the lives she has touched and inspired. The family kindly ask for time and space at this difficult time.”

The MoD said she had a background representing England and Great Britain in a number of different sports. After graduating from Imperial College London, she joined the Royal Navy in 2019.

During a break in her flying training, she became Britain’s only serving female Royal Navy Commando and worked as part of the UK military’s response to the Channel migrant crisis, helping to find and recover boats to prevent loss of life, it said.

Gayson’s family said he was “passionate about and dedicated to his job in the Royal Navy”.

During his career, he instructed helicopter pilots of all three armed services.

The MoD said he joined the Royal Navy as a Warfare (Pilot) Officer in September 2008 after studying for a Masters in aerospace engineering at the University of Bath.

He served with 845 Naval Air Squadron flying the Sea King Mk4, which included flying in Norway, Jordan, Afghanistan and “embarked operations” on maritime vessels, and was selected for promotion to lieutenant commander in 2020.

In March 2023, he joined Joint Aviation Command before being selected to convert on to the Commando Merlin helicopter.

He became an Operational Conversion Flight Commander on 846 Naval Air Squadron – one of the two frontline Merlin Squadrons that make up the Royal Navy’s Commando Helicopter Force – in July 2025.

The MoD said: “An utmost professional, his leadership of the Operational Conversion Flight was exemplary, and his loss is a huge blow to the Royal Navy, Force, and Squadron.”

Green joined the Royal Navy in 2022, serving first as an aircrewman before progressing through the ranks and achieving his Aircrewman Wings in June 2025, the MoD said.

He went on to take part in a number of major exercises, developing an expertise in operating in extreme Arctic conditions.

In a tribute, his family said: “Losing Owen has left us all devastated. His life was far too short, and our hearts will forever be broken.

“His kindness, warmth, and character touched everyone who knew him. We are so proud of him achieving his life’s goal to serve in the Royal Navy as a Junglie Aircrewman and are grateful for the joy he brought into ours and Iona’s lives.

“He is so loved and will remain in our hearts forever.”

‘A great tragedy’

Air Vice-Marshal Lee Turner RAF, Commander of Joint Aviation Command, said the “loss of three deeply capable and professional aviators during the tragic incident yesterday is the cause of profound sadness across the Joint Aviation Command and the Commando Helicopter Force in particular”.

“They will be greatly missed, and our thoughts are with the families and all those affected,” he said.

Col Will Penkman, Commanding Officer of Commando Helicopter Force (CHF), called it “a great tragedy”.

“We lost three members of the CHF family yesterday,” Penkman said.

“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.

“Their loss leaves a terrible gap in our hearts and my thoughts go out to their family and friends who dearly loved them.”

Bouquets of flowers have been placed on the grass. They are wrapped in plastic which is blue or purple

Floral tributes have been placed near the site

Defence Secretary John Healey said the losses were “devastating”.

“They were dedicated and highly valued members of their squadrons who embodied the best of our Armed Forces,” he said.

“Their deaths are a profound loss to all who knew them. My thoughts are with their families, loved ones and those who served alongside side them at this deeply tragic time.”

Following the news of the crash on Wednesday, tributes were paid by the Princess of Wales in her role as Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm, as well as the head of the Royal Navy, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

The Civil Aviation Authority said the incident would be investigated by the Defence Accident Investigation Branch. (BBC)

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