30 years ago, this week, on the 21st of December, 1988, Pan Am flight 103 suffered a terrorist attack when a bomb exploded at 31,000 feet, blowing out the the luggage hold, causing large sections of the plane to crash into residential areas in Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. The flight was enroute to Detroit from Frankfurt, via London and New York. The aircraft was named “Clipper of the Seas”.
All 259 passengers and 16 crew, from 21 countries, not including 11 Lockerbie residents on the ground, were killed. Of the 275 total fatalities, 190 were American citizens and 43 were British citizens. Nineteen other nationalities were represented, with four or fewer passengers per country. Thirty-five of the passengers were students from Syracuse University returning home for Christmas after studying in London at Syracuse’s London and Florence campuses for a semester.
Amongst the other passengers were at least four senior US government officials on board, with a rumour of one more, a UN Commissioner and a CIA station Chief. According to victim organisations, the list of the 270 Lockerbie victims also includes musicians, professors, engineers, bond brokers, advertising executives, army sergeants; one puppeteer, a peace activist, a social worker, a dog handler, a nurse, a stamp dealer, an art historian, a chef, a hair stylist, and a pharmaceutical chemist and two infants barely two months old, among many others not listed here.
The blame for the attack was laid at the feet of Libya under the regime of Muammar Gaddafi and a Libyan national Abdelbaset Ali Al Megrahi, who died in 2012 and a firmer Libyan Intelligence Officer, was convicted of the crime. However, some UK relatives of the victims supported by others believe he was innocent and are still trying to posthumously Have his conviction overturned.
One such individual is Lockerbie-born retired law Professor Robert Black,. Mr Black was a professor of Scots Law at Edinburgh University and is credited as one of the architects of the original Lockerbie trial at Camp Zeist in the Netherlands. He was a founder member of the Justice for Megrahi campaign, set up after the terminally ill Libyan Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi was refused bail in 2008. Robert’s father, a plumber was a one time employee of Carruthers and Green in Lockerbie itself. Both his father and mother, residents of Lockerbie, were lucky enough to have survived, although his father Jim, his in an alleyway to avoid the flying debris.
The Lockerbie disaster remains the largest atrocity by a terrorist in British soil. The Lockerbie Air Disaster Memorial sits within the tranquil setting of the Garden of Remembrance at the far end of Dryfesdale Cemetery. The garden of pretty flower beds and individual memorials is in remembrance to the 270 victims of the bombing. Within the Garden of Remembrance is a imposing slad of dark grey granite, the Lockerbie Air Disaster Memorial, which has all 270 names carved into it.
The plaque states; In remembrance of all victims of Lockerbie Air Disaster who died on 21st December 1998
Passengers and crew aboard Pan Am 103:
1.John Michael Gerard Ahern, New York, US
2.Sarah Margaret Aicher, London, UK
3.John David Akerstrom, Ohio, US
4.Ronald Ely Alexander, New York, US
5.Thomas Joseph Ammerman, New Jersey, US
6.Martin Lewis Apfelbaum, Philadelphia, US
7.Rachel Marie Asrelsky, New York, US
8.Judith Ellen Bernstein or Atkinson, London, UK
9.William Garretson Atkinson III, London, UK
10.Elisabeth Nicole Marie Avoyne, Croissy Sur Seine, France (Flight Attendant)
11.Jerry Don Avritt, California, US (Flight Engineer)
12.Clare Louise Bacciochi, Tamworth, UK (aged 19 years)
13.Harry Michael Bainbridge, New York, US
14.Stuart Murray Barclay, Vermont, US
15.Jean Mary Crispin or Bell, Berkshire, US
16.Julian MacBain Benello, Massachusetts, US
17.Lawrence Ray Bennett, Michigan, US
18.Philip Vernon Bergstrom, Minnesota, US
19.Alistair David Berkley, London, UK
20.Michael Stuart Bernstein, Maryland, US
21.Steven Russell Berrell, North Dakota, US (aged 20 years)
22.Noelle Lydie Berti, Paris, France (American – Flight Attendant)
23.Surinder Mohan Bhatia, California, US
24.Kenneth John Bissett, New York, US
25.Diane Ann Boatman-Fuller, London, UK
26.Stephen John Boland, New Hampshire, US (aged 20 years)
27.Glenn John Bouckley, New York, US
28.Paula Marie Alderman or Bouckley, New York, US
29.Nicole Elise Boulanger, Massachusetts, US
30.Francis Boyer, Toulosane, France
31.Nicholas Bright, Massachusetts, US
32.Daniel Solomon Browner (Beer), Parod, Northern Israel
33.Colleen Renee Brunner, New York, US (aged 20 years)
34.Timothy Guy Burman, London, UK
35.Michael Warren Buser, New Jersey, US
36.Warren Max Buser, New Jersey, US
37.Steven Lee Butler, Colorado, US
38.William Martin Cadman, London, UK
39.Fabiana Benvenuto or Caffarone, London, UK
40.Herman Luis Caffarone, London, UK
41.Valerie Canady, West Virginia, US
42.Gregory Joseph Capasso, New York, US
43.Timothy Michael Cardwell, Pennsylvania, US
44.Bernt Wilmar Carlsson, New York, US
45.Richard Anthony Cawley, New York, US
46.Frank Ciulla, New Jersey, US
47.Theodora Eugenia Cohen, New York, US (aged 20 years)
48.Eric Michael Coker, New Jersey, US (aged 20 years)
49.Jason Michael Coker, New Jersey, US (aged 20 years)
50.Gary Leonard Colasanti, Massachusetts, US (aged 20 years)
51.Bridget Mulroy or Concannon, Oxfordshire, UK (Irish)
52.Sean Concannon, Oxfordshire, UK (aged 16 years)
53.Thomas Concannon, Oxfordshire, UK (Irish)
54.Tracey Jane Corner, Sheffield, UK (aged 17 years)
55.Scott Marsh Cory, Connecticut, US (aged 20 years)
56.Willis Larry Coursey, Texas, US
57.Patricia Mary Coyle, Connecticut, US (aged 20 years)
58.John Binning Cummock, Florida, US
59.Joseph Patrick Curry, Massachusetts, US
60.William Alan Daniels, New Jersey, US
61. Gretchen Joyce Dater, New Jersey, US (aged 20 years)
62.Shannon Davis, Connecticut, US (aged 19 year)
63.Gabriele Della-Ripa, New York, US
64.Om Dikshit, Ohio, US (Indian)
65.Joyce Christine Dimauro, New York, US
66.Gianfranca Dinardo, South Kensington, London (Italian)
67.Peter Thomas Stanley Dix, London, UK (Irish)
68.Shanti Devi or Dixit, Ohio, US
69.David Scott Dornstein, Pennsylvania, US
70.Michael Joseph Doyle, New Jersey, US
71.Edgar Howard Eggleston III, New York, US
72.Siv Ulla Engstrom, Berkshire, UK (Swedish – Flight Attendant)
73.Turhan Ergin, Connecticut, US
74.Charles Thomas Fisher IV, London, UK
75.Clayton Lee Flick, Coventry, UK
76.John Patrick Flynn, New Jersey, US
77.Arthur Jay Fondiler, New York, US
78.Robert Gerard Fortune, New York, US
79.Stacie Denise Franklin, California, US (Flight Attendant, aged 20 years)
80.Paul Matthew Stephen Freeman, London, UK
81.James Ralph Fuller, Michigan, US
82.Ibolya Robertne Drucker or Gabor, Budapest, Hungary
83.Amy Beth Gallagher, Quebec, Canada
84.Matthew Kevin Gannon, California, US
85.Kenneth Raymond Garczynski, New Jersey, US
86.Paul Isaac Garrett, California, US (Flight Attendant)
87.Kenneth James Gibson, New York, US (aged 20 years)
88.William David Giebler, London, UK
89.Andrew Christopher Gillies-Wright, Surrey, UK
90.Olive Leonora Gordon, London, UK
91.Linda SUSn Gordon-Gorgacz, London, UK
92.Anne Madelene Chaback or Gorgacz, Pennsylvania, US
93.Loretta Anne Gorgacz, Pennsylvania, US
94.David Jay Gould, Pennsylvania, US
95.Andre Nikolai Guevorgian, New York, US
96.Nicola Jane Hall, Sandton, South Africa
97.Lorraine Frances Buser or Halsch, New York, US
98.Lynne Carol Hartunian, New York, US
99.Anthony Lacey Hawkins, New York, US
100.Pamela Elaine Herbert, Michigan, US (aged 19 years)
101.Rodney Peter Hilbert, Pennsylvania, US
102.Alfred Hill, Sonthofen, Germany
103.Katherine Augusta Hollister, New York, US (aged 20 years)
104.Josephine Lisa Hudson, London, UK
105.Melina Kristina Hudson, New York, US (aged 16 years)
106.Sophie Ailette Miriam Hudson, Paris, France
107.Karen Lee Hunt, New York, US (aged 20 years)
108.Roger Elwood Hurst, New Jersey, US
109.Elizabeth Sophie Ivell, East Sussex, UK (aged 19 years)
110.Khaled Nazir Jaafar, Michigan, US (aged 20 years)
111.Robert van Houten Jeck, New Jersey, US
112.Paul Avron Jeffreys, Surrey, UK
113.Rachel Mary Elizabeth Jones or Jeffreys, Surrey, UK
114.Kathleen Mary Jermyn, New York, US (aged 20 years)
115.Beth Ann Johnson, Pennsylvania, US
116.Mary Lincoln Johnson, Massachusetts, US
117.Timothy Baron Johnson, New Jersey, US
118.Christopher Andrew Jones, New York, US (aged 20 years)
119.Julianne Frances Kelly, Massachusetts, US (aged 20 years)
120.Jay Joseph Kingham, Maryland, US
121.Patricia Ann Klein, New Jersey, US
122.Gregory Kosmowski, Michigan, US
123.Elke Etha Kuhne, Hanover, West Germany (Flight Attendant)
124.Minas Christopher Kulukundis, London, UK
125.Ronald Albert Lariviere, Virginia, US
126.Maria Nieves Larracoechea, Madrid, Spain (Flight Attendant)
127. Robert Milton Leckburg, New Jersey, US
128. William Chase Leyrer, New York, US
129.Wendy Anne Lincoln, Massachusetts, US
130.Alexander Lowenstein, New Jersey, US
131.Lloyd David Ludlow, New York, US
132.Maria Theresia Lurbke, Balve-Beckum, West Germany
133.James Bruce MacQuarrie, New Hampshire, US (Captain)
134.William John McAllister, Middlesex, UK
135.Daniel Emmet McCarthy, New York, US
136.Robert Eugene McCollum, Pennsylvania, US
137.Charles Dennis McKee, Virginia, US
138.Bernard Joseph McLaughlin, Rhode Island, US
139.Lilibeth Tobila Macalolooy, Kelsterbach, Germany (Flight Attendant)
140.William Edward Mack, New York, New York, US
141.Douglas Eugene Malicote, New York, New York, US
142. Wendy Gay Forsyth or Malicote, Mannheim, Germany (American)
143. Elizabeth Lillian Marek, New York, US
144.Louis Anthony Marengo, Michigan, US
145.Noel George Martin, also known as Joseph Emmanuel Barzey, Gloucestershire, UK (Jamaican)
146.Diane Marie Maslowski, New Jersey, US
147.Jane Susan Melber, Middlesex, UK (American)
148.John Merrill, Hertfordshire, UK
149.Suzanne Marie Miazga, New York, US
150.Joseph Kenneth Miller, New York, US
151.Jewel Courtney Mitchell, New York, US
152.Richard Paul Monetti, New Jersey, US (aged 20 years)
153.Jane Ann Morgan, London, UK (American)
154.Eva Ingeborg Fuchs or Morson, New York, US
155.Helga Rachael Mosey, West Midlands, UK (aged 19 years)
156.Ingrid Elisabeth Svensson or Mulroy, Kamnarsvagen, Lund, Sweden
157.John Mulroy, New York, US
158.Sean Kevin Mulroy, Kamnarsvagen, Lund, Sweden (American)
159.Mary Geraldine Murphy, Middlesex, UK (Purser)
160.Karen Elizabeth Noonan, Maryland, US (aged 20 years)
161.Daniel Emmett O’Connor, Massachusetts, US
162.Mary Denice O’Neill, New York, US
163.Ane Lindsey Otenasek, Maryland, US
164.Bryony Elise Owen, Bristol, UK (aged 1 year)
165.Gwyneth Yvonne Margaret Owen, Bristol, UK
166.Laura Abigail Owens, New Jersey, US (aged 8 years)
167.Martha Ives or Owens, New Jersey, US
168.Robert Plack Owens, New Jersey, US
169.Sarah Rebecca Owens, New Jersey, US (aged 14 years)
170.Robert Italo Pagnucco, New York, US
171.Christos Michael Papadopoulos, New York, US
172.Peter Raymond Peirce, Ohio, US
173.Michael Cosimo Pescatore, Ohio, US
174. Sarah SUSnnah Buchanan Philipps, Massachusetts, US (aged 20 years)
175.Frederick Sandford Phillips, Arkansas, US
176.James Andrew Campbell Pitt, Massachusetts, US
177.David Platt, New York, US
178.Walter Leonard Porter, New York, US
179.Pamela Lynn Posen, New York, US (aged 20 years)
180.William Pugh, New Jersey, US
181.Crisostomo Estrella Quiguyan, London, UK (Filipino)
182.Rajesh Tarsis Priskel Ramses, Leicester, UK (Indian)
183.Anmol Rattan, Michigan, UK (aged 2 years)
184.Garima Dixit or Rattan, Michigan, US
185.Suruchi Rattan, Michigan, US (aged 3 years)
186.Anita Lynn Reeves, Maryland, US
187.Mark Alan Rein, New York, US
188.Jocelyn Reina, Middlesex, UK, American (Flight Attendant)
189.Diane Marie Rencevicz, New Jersey, US
190. Louise Ann Rogers, Maryland, US
191.Edina Roller, Hungary (aged 5 years)
192.Janos Gabor Roller, Hungary
193.Zsuzsanna Pisak or Roller, Hungary
194.Hanne Maria Maijala or Root, New York, US
195.Saul Mark Rosen, New Jersey, US
196.Andrea Victoria Rosenthal, New York, US
197.Daniel Peter Rosenthal, New York, US (aged 20 years)
198.Myra Josephine Royal, London, UK, Dominican Republic (Flight Attendant)
199.Arnaud David Rubin, Waterloo, Belgium
200.Elyse Jeanne Saraceni, London, UK (aged 20 years)
201.Scott Christopher Saunders, Pennsylvania, US
202.Teresa Elizabeth Jane Wilson or Saunders, Middlesex, UK
203.Johannes Otto Schaeuble, Wurmlingen, Germany
204.Robert Thomas Schlageter, Rhode Island, US (aged 20 years)
205.Thomas Britton Schultz, Connecticut, US (aged 20 years)
206.Sally Elizabeth Scott, New York, US (British)
207. Amy Elizabeth Shapiro, Connecticut, US
208.Mridula Shastri, Oxford, UK (Indian)
209.Joan Lichtenstein or Sheanshang, New York, US
210.Irving Stanley Sigal, New Jersey, US
211.Martin Bernard Carruthers Simpson, New York, US
212.Irja Syhnove Skabo, Ankerveien, Oslo, Norway, (Finnish – Flight Attendant)
213.Cynthia Joan Smith, Massachusetts, US
214.Ingrid Anita Leadgard or Smith, Berkshire, UK
215.James Alvin Smith, New York, US
216.Mary Edna Hall or Smith, New York, US
217.Geraldine Anne O’Gara or Stevenson, Surrey
218.Hannah Louise Stevenson, Surrey, UK (aged 10 years)
219.John Charles Stevenson, Surrey, UK
220.Rachael Stevenson, Surrey, UK (aged 8 years)
221.Charlotte Ann McGuire or Stinnett, Texas, US
222.Michael Gary Stinnett, Texas, US
223. Stacey Leanne Stinnett, Texas, US (aged 9 years)
224.James Ralph Stow, New York, US
225.Elia G Stratis, New Jersey, US
226.Anthony Selwyn Swan, New York, US (Trinidadian)
227.Flora MacDonald Margaret Swire, London, UK
228.Marc Alex Tager, London, UK
229.Hidekazu Tanaka, London, UK (Japanese)
230.Andrew Alexander Teran, Connecticut, US (Bolivian – aged 20 years)
231.Arva Anthony Thomas, Michigan, US (aged 17 years)
232.Jonathan Ryan Thomas, Michigan, US (aged 2 months)
233.Lawanda Coleman or Thomas, Michigan, US
234.Mark Lawrence Tobin, New York, US
235.David William Trimmer-Smith, New York, US
236.Alexia Kathryn Tsairis, New Jersey, US (aged 20 years)
237.Barry Joseph Valentino, California, US
238. Tomas Floro van Tienhoven, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and also at London, UK
239. Asaad Eidi Vejdany, New York, US
240.Milutin Velimirovich, Middlesex, UK (Purser)
241.Nicholas Andreas Vrenios, Washington DC, US (aged 20 years)
242.Peter Vulcu, Ohio, US
243.Raymond Ronald Wagner, New Jersey, US (First Officer)
244.Janina Jozefa Rusniak or Mitka or Waido, Illinois, US
245.Thomas Edwin Walker, Massachusetts, US
246.Kesha Weedon, New York, US (aged 20 years)
247.Jerome Lee Weston, New York, US
248.Jonathan White, California, US
249.Bonnie Leigh Rafferty or Williams, New York, US
250.Brittany Leigh Williams, New York, US (aged 2 months)
251.Eric Jon Williams, New York, US
252.George Waterson Williams, Maryland, US
253.Stephanie Leigh Williams, New York, US (aged 1 year)
254. Miriam Luby Wolfe, Maryland, US (aged 20 years)
255.Chelsea Marie Woods, Germany (American – aged 10 months)
256.Dedera Lynn Copeland or Woods, Germany (American)
257.Joe Nathan Woods, Germany (American)
258.Joe Nathan Woods Jnr, Germany (American – aged 2 years)
259.Mark James Zwynenburg, New York, US
Residents of Lockerbie, Scotland who lost their lives in the wreckage:
1.Joanne Flannigan, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire (aged 10 years)
2.Kathleen Mary Doolan or Flannigan, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire
3.Thomas Brown Flannigan, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire
4.Dora Henrietta Moffat or Henry, Arranmore, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire
5.Maurice Peter Henry, Arranmore, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire
6.Mary Browell or Lancaster, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire
7.Jean Aitken Murray, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire
8.John Somerville, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire
9.Lynsey Anne Somerville, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire (aged 10 years)
10.Paul Somerville, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire (aged 13 years)
11.Rosaleen Leiter Hanney/Somerville, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire
Lockerbie is in Dryfesdale parish in the region of Annandale, where Carruthers have had their historic homes for centuries. Dalton Kirk and Dormont Estate are very close by Lockerbie istelf. In 1896 the new parish church of Lockerbie was designed by local architect Frank James Chambers Carruthers, who came to be recognised as the towns principal architect of the time.
Our family have members listed in both the war memorial in Lockerbie and the graveyard of Dryfesdale itself, and had played their part in the aftermath of the disaster on the ground.
Interesting there was an American Carruthers on the flight and there was a Carruthers on the ground darn close to “Carruthers Land”.
Hi Zelda no Carruthers died, the gravestone is one if a few which showed a carruthers family lived there. Carruthers however did help after the disaster as all the residents did.
259 plus 16 equals 275 not 270???