Flight Lieutenant Fran Capps

The Ministry of Defence has named the second Royal Air Force officer who died in the Cairngorms avalanche on Thursday.

Flight Lieutenant Fran Capps, 32, originally from Dulverton, Somerset, was climbing with Squadron Leader Rimon Than in the Chalamain Gap when they were buried by snow and ice.

Both were airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, along with another mountaineer who was on winter-skills course from nearby Glenmore Lodge, the national outdoor training centre.

All three died in hospital.

Flt Lt Capps had been in the RAF since 2001 as a logistics officer, serving most recently with the Chinook Force at Royal Air Force Odiham. She had served on operational tours in Iraq, the Falkland Islands, Afghanistan and Qatar.

Group Captain Dominic Toriati, station commander at RAF Odiham, paid tribute to her, saying: “Flight Lieutenant Fran Capps was an exceptionally dedicated Royal Air Force officer and logistician who was well known throughout the service for her remarkable commitment, her joie de vivre and her utter professionalism.

“A measure of the regard in which she was held was her selection to represent the Royal Air Force at the London Olympic medal ceremonies, where she brought her characteristic mixture of fun and hard work to bear to inspire her own team.

“Fran loved adventurous sport, taking part in activities including the Scotland Coast to Coast Challenge and she would have been in her element in the Cairngorms in winter.

“These characteristics were evident to all who met her at Royal Air Force Odiham. She was a popular and dynamic officer with huge potential for the future whose loss will be sorely felt.

“Flight Lieutenant Fran Capps will be missed by all and our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this very sad time.”

Wing Commander Ian Richardson, chairman of the RAF Mountaineering Association, said: “Flight Lieutenant Fran Capps was a bubbly and enthusiastic member of the committee and association.

“Having gained high altitude experience on an expedition to the Indian Himalayas in 2006, she went on to share her experience and develop other mountaineers by successfully leading a group on an expedition that circumnavigated Mount Kenya and summited Point Lenana.

“Fran was always smiling, always enthusiastic, always welcoming and always willing to get involved and share her love of the hills with everyone in the association and beyond.

“She will be sorely missed.”

Squadron Leader Rimon Than

Colleagues also paid tribute to Sq Ldr Than, who was based at Valley on Anglesey, the home of the RAF’s search and rescue 22 Squadron, of which the Duke of Cambridge is a member.

Sqn Ldr Rimon Than was born in Burma. He initially joined the Royal Air Force as a medical cadet in 2001.

Group Captain Adrian Hill, station commander at RAF Valley, said: “Sqn Ldr Rimon Than was the senior medical officer at RAF Valley and was a fine, dedicated officer and doctor.

“He was passionate about mountaineering and his death is a tragedy.

“He was well respected and popular and will be sorely missed by all personnel at RAF Valley. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.”

Wg Cdr Richardson, Chairman added: “Rimon Than was a unique and talented individual: a fine doctor and a passionate mountaineer.

“A long-time member of the RAF Mountaineering Association, Rimon was a hugely capable climber with extensive experience of the demands of mountaineering at high altitudes.

“He was dedicated to providing the opportunities to those who wished to further their mountaineering skills, developing novel opportunities with various international bodies.

“He had only recently returned from a highly successful expedition to the Sichuan Province of China, where his team summited the virgin peak Wupingfen.

“Seemingly a quiet individual, Rimon had a wry sense of humour and an emphatically pragmatic outlook on all aspects of life.

“Devoted to his partner Claire, they lived a life of adventure together, as his holiday photos would testify. He will be sorely missed.”

The third casualty from the avalanche has not yet been named.