RN 'Rescue 193' crew honoured

[Heliport]

Full story here (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=150029)

[snafu]

Congratulations to Claire and the rest of the crew! I just hope that the Service can reward such an outstanding achievement in a similar manner.:ok:

[Tourist]

Very nicely done, but I agree with the Sqn line that you shouldnt get medals for doing your Job. Medals for SAR are for non SAR crews going above and beyond, not people doing it day in day out. Otherwise SAR-Gods would be too weighed down on the left hand side.:D

[ZH875]

you shouldnt get medals for doing your JobSo a pilot who brings his crippled plane home after a mission over enemy territory should not get a DFC or AFC, simply doing his job in bringing himself and his jet home, or an army private, rescuing his comrade is ineligible for a gong because he is looking after his comrades as he is taught.

I think there is a touch of jealousy here, people of whatever position (Pilot/SAR crew/Soldier or Sailor) who give a 'brave' performance deserve every medal available.

Compare the word 'Brave' as used in this instance, with 'Brave' as used to describe footballers and athletes who win a race or score a goal (more usually fails to do either), then you may understand why these crews get honoured.

I may never need a SAR rescue, but I know what they can do if I did.

Congratulations and beers all round for a job well done in difficult conditions.

[Tourist]

Jealous?
What do you mean?

[PPRuNe Pop]

Come on Tourist, you don't mean that!

In ANY job, no matter what it is - if gallantry is shown, if courage is the only way to get the 'job' done, it deserves the highest commendation and award that those who have the honour to bestow it can provide. Their kind of 'job' is not an every day job - it is one of great skill and fortitude and there is many a name that is lopsided with a richly deserved row of ribbons.

The wheel was invented a long long time ago T. ;)

The crew were certainly in the the 'above and beyond' category.

They are to be saluted.

[Tourist]

Have to disagree, pop
Give away too many medals, and next thing you know we all look like yanks thus debasing the meaning of the award. As I am sure you are aware, the pilots in a SAR cab are in no way in the same danger as the men on the wire. Crewies deserve medals, but competent, or even exceptional pilots just deserve their flying pay and naturally the adulation of you lesser mortals.:D

[Melchett01]

Tourist - Easy Tiger!!!

Sounds like a job well done under bloody difficult conditions.

And as for differentiating between the driver and the bloke on the end of the winch, sorry mate, but you're in a minority of one. As far as I'm concerned, and I would wager most others like me agree, in a case like this it's one in, all in. Sounds like you are harking back to the days of differential awards, with an ac captain getting the DSO with his Nav getting the MID if he was lucky because he accidentally happened to be there at the same time as the pilot displayed outstanding leadership and bravery blah blah blah.

By the sounds of it, everyone of the crew deserved an award, and good on them. Long may the spirit of 'above and beyond the cal'l continue.

God knows, in the current climate of the Top Brass not wanting to take risks and stand-off weapons that can take out Mrs Miggins Pie Shop from a couple of hundred miles, we need all the good examples of heroism and leadersip we can get, and this sounds like one of them.

[Hueymeister]

Well done to all concerned...that's the sort of courage and determination that the SAR service as a whole always puts into it's rescues.

[swampy_lynx_puke]

I understand that this is the first time a female has received this type of award. Can anyone think of a previous?

[Dancing Bear]

Tourist,

One small point having read the whole thread, this is an award from "The Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators for outstanding feats in the field of Search and Rescue", therefore QED you have to be in a SAR squadrton or on a SAR Mission(As 814 NAS, who won the award a few years ago for a magnificent contribution to the Greek liner that hit rocks) to qualify. There is no mention of medals and the crew would probably not wish for any. Get your facts right berfore you sound off.

This is appropriatte recognition for an outstanding feat of both SAR and airmanship, BZ to all involved for achieving such a succesful outcome in such awful West Country conditions.

Keep up the good work the Ace of Clubs.

[Tourist]

you misunderstand me.
I was not arguing with their recieving this award, I was arguing with snafu's point that the service should also award medals.

[Bigtop]

Tourist - read SNAFU's post carefully. Reward of a similar manner need not necessarily mean medals. CINCFLEET's Commendation and a raft of other acolades (QCBA) could be awarded to recognise their achievements. SAR can be as dangerous as any other operational commitments. Bravery should be assessed on an individual basis and recognised accordingly.
Top job - well done 193.

[snafu]

Bigtop - you beat me to it!

Tourist, I wasn't actually advocating any specific award, just that I felt it would be appropriate for the Service to acknowledge the achievement of the crew of Rescue 193, which has quite rightly been recognised by GAPAN. Whilst I understand your comment that they, as a SAR crew, were only doing their jobs, I would suggest that this particular rescue was at the extreme end of the spectrum. As such, I agree with GAPAN that it deserves special recognition over and above the normal courage and dedication demonstrated by our SAR crews (of whatever uniform/Service or employer) around the country every day.

If pressed, I reckon a Green endorsement for the whole crew to start with, followed by a smattering of QCBAs at least. The RN are traditionally appalling at proposing people for gongs, but I think that a case could quite easily be made for QGMs or even higher for the two aircrewmen and Claire as the aircraft captain. Unfortunately, I'm not going to hold my breath!

[PPRuNe Pop]

I can hold my breath no longer. Would someone be kind enough to tell this ignoramus (and perhaps one or two others as well - but were afraid to ask!) what the term BZ signifies please.

[airborne_artist]

BZ is Navy speak for "Well Done"

The signal book uses a two flag system, with the B- signals being called administrative signals, and dealing with miscellaneous matters of administration and housekeeping. The last signal on the "Administrative" page is BZ, standing for "well done."

[Tourist]

The Greek ferry rescue has been mentioned. That event was a non SAR trained crew, under extremely dangerous conditions for all concerned, and quite rightly garnered some Bravery awards. Some SAR crew is out in Sh1tty weather most days, and I bet if you asked Claire whether that mission was particularly outstanding she could think of a few others during her 771 time that were more exciting, but got less press attention.

On another note, did you know that the rescued man is in jail now, cause he pinched the yacht!

[cobaltfrog]

Lets face facts here. When you look at the fact that there was only one RN/RM DFC for Telic when there should have been more then what chance does the crew of 193 have of getting something along the lines of a QCBA or a QGM ?

The Honours and awards Committee were faced with many recommends for awards of MID and above for Telic for work in the Air relating to the RN/RM and we got 1 DFC, 3 MID's and 2 QCVS's.

I take nothing from Claire and the crew as I was not there and certainly do not have her skills in the cockpit, but I do know how the honours and awards system works!

[PPRuNe Pop]

AA, thank you very much. Now we know.:ok:

[Arkroyal]

Where are the details, Heliport? The link didn't work.

Can't comment yet on deservedness of awards, but thankfully, the RN is sparing in their distribution.

See a gong on a dark blue chest (breast:confused: ) and you know it was well earned.

[airborne_artist]

is here (http://www.fleetairarmoa.org/pages/news/news.htm)

scroll down the page to find it

[Arkroyal]

Thanks for the link a-a.

I'd say they deserve this award. Low-key and collective, but much appreciated and earned.