TRIBUTES have been paid to the Welsh RAF serviceman who died in the Hercules crash in the Iraqi desert last week.

Flight Sergeant Mark Gibson, aged 34, spent much of his younger years in Pembrokeshire. His father was stationed with the RAF at Brawdy and Mark and his younger brother, Neil, who is also in the RAF, were pupils at Tasker Milward School, Haverfordwest.

Mark was a cadet in the 948 ATC Squadron Haverfordwest.

Stuart Evans, who was his commanding officer there, said: "Mark was a sergeant in the cadets and was a super lad who was prepared to help anyone and liked a laugh and a joke. He represented the squadron in various sports."

Mr Evans said Mark was part of the squadron when its work within the community was recognised by the Haverfordwest Town Council's Laurel Awards and also with a Cadet Trophy for Wales.

Mark followed his father into the RAF when he was 17. He trained as an air loadmaster and was awarded his air loadmaster's brevet in 1989. He was posted directly to RAF Lyneham to join the Hercules fleet.

An early above-average flying category saw him posted to an instructor's tour, first with 57 Squadron and then the 47 Squadron.

Gibbo, as he was known to everyone, accrued more than 7,300 flying hours, the vast majority on the Hercules. He saw action in many theatres and was awarded Operational Service Medals for Sierra Leone, Afghanistan and Iraq.

He later produced an ad-hoc new loading scheme which directly led to the success of a major operation during the Afghanistan conflict.

Mark was married to Sheila and their daughter, Poppy, was born in November 1997. He took great delight that she had already started her golf lessons.

Chris Jones, headteacher of Tasker Milward School, said: "We offer our sincere condolences to Mark's family."

A MINISTRY of Defence tribute said: "Gibbo was known and loved by all who worked with him and he was known to be a bandit on the golf course, regularly playing ten below his handicap.

He was renowned for his entertainments, such as the music he played to parachutists as they jumped out.

In short, he was one of life's entertainers, a true character, a real giver - never a taker. "He was a great husband and father and will be sorely missed."