In Memory of Robert H Burke
(1940-2026)
Our friend, fellow campaigner and supporter, former Squadron Leader Robert Burke, has died after a short illness. He was 86.
A former Chinook test pilot, Robert played a crucial role in helping to clear the names of the two pilots wrongly blamed for the disaster, exposing serious concerns about the aircraft's airworthiness and challenging the Ministry of Defence's account of the crash.
He was instrumental in compiling a substantial dossier of technical evidence concerning the Chinook HC.2's lack of airworthiness and revealed to a BBC documentary aired in 2024 that the fatal mission was a "show flight" by the RAF to prove to the Army that the aircraft was safe. It clearly wasn’t.
We will honour Robert’s legacy by continuing to fight for the truth he knew and shared with the families. His death makes us even more determined to get the justice for which he campaigned so hard. The MoD must not escape justice by thinking we will all die before the truth comes out.
Below you can read a selection of the tributes we have received so far:
Susan Phoenix, who has campaigned for 32 years for the truth about the crash, said: "It is heartbreaking that Robert has died without seeing the MoD admit to the truth, but it makes us even more determined to get justice and a fresh inquiry independent of the MoD.
“He knew that vital questions remained unanswered and that the families deserved better, and he told us recently that he would do anything for the campaign to ensure we got to the truth.
“The greatest tribute we can pay him is to continue the fight and ensure the evidence he worked so tirelessly to uncover is finally, properly, examined and that the MoD stops marking its own homework. That’s why we hope that the Prime Minister agrees to meet us and will help us to carry Robert’s legacy forward.
Retired RAF Wing Commander Bill Southcombe
Retired RAF Wing Commander Bill Southcombe, one of Robert’s closest friends and a former colleague flying the Vulcan aircraft, said: "Robert was an exceptional man, and a wonderful swashbuckling character, who was the life and soul of every party, but who also spoke truth to power and, as we know, was not intimidated by his superiors. He was fearless, extraordinarily knowledgeable and utterly committed to the truth. We have lost not just an expert, but a dear friend."
Robert's death follows the loss earlier this year of aeronautical engineer David Hill, another leading expert who spent years examining the Chinook's airworthiness failures and challenging the official account of the disaster, and the eldest campaigner John Dockerty, 96, whose son Chris died in the crash.
Chris Cook, whose brother Rick was one of the two pilots initially, and wrongly, blamed for the crash.
Chris Cook, who spent years campaigning to clear his brother’s name, said: “Robert was an officer of great integrity and professionalism. When he retired and courageously stepped forward to support the Chinook Pilots’ campaign for justice, he brought forward clear evidence that proved, more than ever, how unjust the accusations of gross negligence were.
“His knowledge, experience and witness testimony were critical in the long campaign to clear the pilots’ names, achieving success, no question! Both the Cook and Tapper families can never thank Robert enough.”
Tim Reid, who handles media relations for the Chinook Justice Campaign
Former BBC correspondent Tim Reid, spokesperson for the Chinook Justice Campaign, said: "Robert's death is a huge and terrible loss to the families and to everyone who has fought for the truth about this disaster.
"His knowledge of the Chinook and the circumstances of the crash was second to none. He was an outstanding champion of the truth, an incredible character and a man of extraordinary courage and determination.
"He had the strength to stand up to the Ministry of Defence time and time again, challenging its lack of transparency and its repeated failure to tell the families the full truth about what happened to their loved ones. His death leaves an enormous hole in our campaign.”
Nicola Rawcliffe, whose brother Chris was killed in the crash
Nicola Rawcliffe, daughter of John Dockerty who died in March after 30 years spent seeking the truth, and brother of Chris, who was killed on ZD576, said: “Robert has been a lynchpin of our campaign over three decades.
“We cannot pay tribute to him highly enough and we cannot believe another campaigner and source of truth has died this year. The MoD thinks it can keep the truth hidden until we all die off, but that won't happen.
“While his death is another devastating blow to the campaign, we will fight on until we get justice in tribute to him, to David Hill and my father and to keep their legacies alive."