Flamingo Survivor Relives Tragedy

NASSAU,BAHAMAS – More than four decades after four officers were killed during an attack on HMBS Flamingo, a surviving shipmate is reliving that tragic day.

Jasmin Brown has his harrowing story in this report.

Retired Captain Whitfield Neely was one of fifteen survivors of the ill-fated HMBS Flamingo.

While this past week marked 42 years since the tragic incident, Neely says it is still etched in his memory.

Marine Seamans David Tucker, Edward Williams, Austin Smith and Able Seaman Fenrick Sturrup were killed on May 10th, 1980, after the two Cuban MiG fighter jets bombed HMBS flamingo in waters off the Ragged Island chain.

The attack came after officers apprehended two Cuban fishing vessels for illegal fishing in Bahamian waters.

Neely says it went from calm to chaotic just forty minutes later.

The military veteran says everything came to life just seconds later.

Neely says he had the task of helping to rescue marines as they were being fired on in the water.

He says when the barrage of bullets ended, they realized four of their fellow marines were missing.

Neely went on to serves another 40 plus years on the force. He retired from the RBDF in 2021.

Also last year Neely was bestowed with the honor as a member of the most excellent order of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.