The ten British servicemen killed when their C-130K Hercules aircraft crashed near Baghdad on Sunday evening were named today, although the Ministry of Defence said the cause of the crash was still being investigated.

Nine airmen and one soldier died in the crash, the most costly single incident for UK forces in Iraq.

The RAF contingent included Squadron Leader Patrick Brian Marshall, Royal Air Force, a 39-year-old staff officer serving with Headquarters Strike Command, High Wycombe.

Also killed were five members of 47 Squadron, based at RAF Lyneham. They were: Flight Lieutenant David Stead, a 35-year-old pilot, who was captain of the flight; Flight Lieutenant Andrew Smith, his 25-year-old co-pilot; Flight Lieutenant Pardoel, an Australian navigator, aged 35; Master Engineer Gary Nicholson, a 42-year-old air engineer; and Flight Sergeant Mark Gibson, a 34-year-old air load master.

The others who died in the crash were Chief Technician Richard Brown, a 40-year-old avionics specialist; Sergeant Robert O'Connor, a 38-year-old engineering technician; and Corporal David Williams, a 37-year-old Survival Equipment Fitter. All three men served at RAF Lyneham, the home base for all RAF Hercules.

The only non-RAF casualty was Acting Lance Corporal Steven Jones, 25, who served with the Royal Signals.

The Queen today sent her condolences to the families of the dead men.

An Iraqi militant group claimed last night that it had shot down the RAF transport aircraft which crashed soon after polls closed in Sunday's Iraqi election. The group released video footage of missiles being fired, an explosion and the debris of a large aircraft strewn over a field.

The attack, claimed by the little-known 1920 Revolution Brigade of the National Islamic Resistance of Iraq, raised fears that the insurgents have acquired a deadly new weapon to use against aircraft. It comes after the mysterious crash last week of a US Marines Sea Stallion helicopter in which 31 troops died.

In a statement read out at the base this morning, Group Captain Paul Oborn said: "The whole of RAF Lyneham feel this loss intensely and our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies are with the families, friends and colleagues of those involved.

"Crew, support personnel and passengers on board were playing a vital role in helping to deliver democracy to the Iraqi people. They will be sorely missed."

He said that this was "one of our best" crews, full of "spirit, self-discipline and professionalism", adding: "RAF Lyneham and the Royal Air Force family as a whole are offering all the support and welfare that we can to the families."

Outside the front gate of the base more than 40 floral tributes had been placed by well wishers. One of them included the words: "Have strength little ones, Daddy’s not gone too far, just look up at night, he’s your bright twinkling star". Another reads: "I am proud to have served with you all."

Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, said that the crash site had been secured, the victims’ bodies were being recovered and that investigators were searching for clues.

"We are aware of reports that the aircraft may have been shot down but we are not in a position to come to any conclusions until the investigation is complete," Mr Hoon said.

Experts were divided over whether the missiles pictured in the video could have brought down a Hercules, and the possibility of an explosion on board remains a major line of inquiry. Pilot error or engine failure also cannot be ruled out, but US sources confirmed that they believed the aircraft had been shot down by a missile.

There were clear skies over Baghdad on Sunday evening and the flight to Balad would have taken only a few minutes. The Hercules C130 is a tough four-engine workhorse with an excellent safety record. Even if it had developed engine trouble it could still have flown.

The Qatar-based al-Jazeera Arabic news channel broadcast footage of the missile attack, which it said it had received from the Iraqi militants responsible. The group has often released videos of attacks, and claimed to have shot down two US helicopters last August.

It is the second group to claim responsibility for bringing down the Hercules.

Sir Jock Stirrup, the Chief of Air Staff, said that it would take "quite some time" to determine the cause of the crash. Amid speculation that the crew came from an RAF special forces squadron, Sir Jock emphasised that it was on a "routine" trip. But analysts pointed out last night that 264 Signal Squadron, which is understood to be Acting Lance Corporal Jones's unit, was associated with special forces.

"Our hearts go out to those whom we lost on Sunday. We mourn them and we mourn those brave and dedicated servicemen who were on the aircraft with them," Sir Jock said.

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