Well done RAF Odiham

[wokkawarrior]

Very well done to all those at
Odiham who received something in the operational honours:

Distinguished Flying Cross

Flt Lt Fortune
Flt Lt Nethaway
Flt Lt Pollard

Queens Commendation for Bravery in the Air

Flt Lt Townsend

Air Force Cross

Flt Sgt Davey

Great to see all the hard work and bravery of the guys at Odiham being recognized.

Ww

[oldbeefer]

Indeed.:D Was a bit surprised to see Ian wearing flying kit on the BBC this morning - perhaps he was on standby.:8

[MightyGem]

I thought RAF pilots always wear flying kit, regardless of what they are doing. :E

[Gainesy]

Full RAF Ops Honours List:

RAF - Operational Honours - Sep 2010 (http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/operationalhonourslistsep2010.cfm)

[Thud_and_Blunder]

I enjoyed listening to the Today programme on the radio this morning - John Humphrys (who only minutes earlier had been on his usual savage form with that nice Mr Pickles from the government...) was clearly impressed by, and delighted to be interviewing, Flt Lt Fortune. I thought the latter made a very good impression during the programme, stressing as always the team nature of the task. Well done indeed, and the same goes to everyone else who still somehow makes it all work.

[Grimweasel]

Well in Chomper and Nethers! Mine's a G&T (Bombay). All good news for Team Odius!

[airborne_artist]

BBC News - Today - 'I didn't even realise I got hit' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9029000/9029518.stm) to listen to the R4 Today interview.

[Hydraulic Palm Tree]

Guys, I am humbled.

Ian, well done to you and all of your team. You, Sir are a shining example to all of us who have served and those that will not or cannot.

Per Ardua

HPT

[barnstormer1968]

AA

Thanks for posting that. :ok:

[Herc-u-lease]

I went through training with Nethers; an incredible guy and i knew it would only be a matter of time before seeing his name on the operational honours list.

big well done!!!

H-u-L

[Neptunus Rex]

Bravo Zulu!

It is most significant that NCOs and airmen are now awarded the appropriate 'Cross' rather than the less striking 'Medal.'

[airborne_artist]

It is most significant that NCOs and airmen are now awarded the appropriate 'Cross' rather than the less striking 'Medal.'

There are no NCO's medals / officers's crosses any more - only crosses are awarded.

[Moose Loadie]

Footage of the actual flight.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/43F492E1_5056_A318_A878C9305C2BDDEE.wmv

(couldn't figure out how to copy and paste the hyperlink)

[Neptunus Rex]

Thank you aa (age 11.)

We all know that; I simply wished to emphasise that it is appropriate. When the system was changed, it was still long overdue.

[Gnd]

The Army and Navy have done things as well - proof here (http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_188430.pdf). Go to the pages above the RAF!

Well done David, Daine and Jeff. Next Comd JHC CBE!!

[Martin the Martian]

I'm currently reading 'Immediate Response' by Mark Hammond. The chapters regarding the aborted IRT into Musa Qala send shivers down my spine.

My highest admiration and thanks to you all.

[CrabInCab]

Gnd me old - I think the thread starter was highlighting gallantry awards hence no mention of the guys you list - not in anyway undermining or underrating their efforts, just not gallantry and hence no reference made about the various others from Odiham who achieved state awards that are on the list you posted.

Congrats to all however.

:D

[Aerouk]

Congrats to them all!

I seen Flt Lt Fortune on the news this morning, he's some height!

[Dundiggin']

Outstanding achievements by outstanding people........well done one and all at RAF Odiham. :D :D:D:D:D

[WASALOADIE]

Cangratulations to all. Well desrved recognition for the outsanding work you're doing.

Al P

[RookiePilot]

Good work, very inspiring to those of us hoping to follow in his footsteps.

[minigundiplomat]

Well done Chopper, Vicky, Lurch & Nethers. Special mention for Tony Davey for 'finally' taking one for the crewman team.

Well done to all those who have done well - you know who you are!

[Duncan D'Sorderlee]

BZ all round!

Duncs:ok:

[Training Risky]

Well done fellas!

(I wonder if these men will be given the same extensive media coverage afforded to other certain SH pilots who were awarded DFCs 2 years ago:E)

[wokawoka]

Training Risky,

Surely you meant pilots without S??? Their's are most definitly real...........

[nice castle]

quote[Footage of the actual flight.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafi...305C2BDDEE.wmv (http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/43F492E1_5056_A318_A878C9305C2BDDEE.wmv)

(couldn't figure out how to copy and paste the hyperlink)]unquote

I just love how the back wheels touch at "4" about 2/3 of the way into the video, reminds me of old times!

Joking aside, marvellously calm and professional - congrats to all the lads at Odiham, those who got recognised, and the myriad others whose efforts are no less heroic.:D

[Tankertrashnav]

It is most significant that NCOs and airmen are now awarded the appropriate 'Cross' rather than the less striking 'Medal.'

Yes, good that all ranks receive equal recognition, but I wouldn't say the DFM and AFM were less striking. Both had the most elegant reverse designs and had the additional nice touch of being named to the recipient, which is not the case with the DFC and AFC

File:Air Force Medal (UK) Reverse.png - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Air_Force_Medal_(UK)_Reverse.png)

File:DistinguishedFlyingMedalUKRev.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DistinguishedFlyingMedalUKRev.jpg)

Oh and my hearty congratulations to all who received awards today.

[wokawoka]

Tankertrashnav,

Sorry to contradict you, but crosses are named and dated with the year of the deed.

WW.

[Tankertrashnav]

Thanks for the info WW which brings me up to date. Up until recent times crosses were unnamed, but had the year only inscribed, although some were named privately Glad to hear that they now name crosses. I'm assuming this came in when the reforms took place in the '90s, and it's a good move :ok:

[Flying Lawyer]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/Rotorheads/Album/Crest.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/Rotorheads/Aviation/GAPANbanner_600.jpg


THE HUGH GORDON-BURGE MEMORIAL AWARD

Awarded to a member or members of a crew whose outstanding behaviour and action contributed to the saving of their aircraft or passengers.

FLIGHT LIEUTENANT ALEXANDER TOWNSEND

Citation: Flight Lieutenant Townsend was the captain of the Immediate Response Team Chinook, in Afghanistan when on 13 February 2010, his team responded to an incident in Nad-E-Ali. This was their second call of the day to the same area.

With 3 miles to run, the crew banked hard to avoid birds, but unfortunately one bird impacted the cockpit window. Shortly afterwards, the crew heard a loud explosion. Flt Lt Townsend diagnosed a No.1 engine failure and correctly shut it down. The aircraft was flared to maintain 50ft. Using residual speed, the aircraft was turned towards a benign area and Flt Lt Townsend established that he could just maintain height. Calmly and professionally, he then declared an emergency, briefed his intentions to the rest of his crew and directed other assets to the casualties. The aircraft was now under control, but at low level and on the wrong side of the 'Green Zone'. Weighing up his options, Flt Lt Townsend had insufficient power to climb, but understood the risks associated with making an emergency landing at a patrol base. He elected to cross the green zone along the safest route, still at 50 feet, using all available performance to maximise speed. The aircraft was recovered safely to Bastion and the crew immediately re-roled to a new aircraft.

After again getting airborne, the new aircraft then experienced a serious hydraulic leak. With a high risk of fire, Flt Lt Townsend efficiently dealt with this emergency and the crew then re-roled into aircraft number 3. At that point, the crew were called again for another medical high risk evacuation mission. As he departed the evacuation site with casualties on board the aircraft came under fire. Flt Lt Townsend identified the compound where the shots were coming from, and gave immediate orders for a rapid departure. Having directed his crew’s suppressive fire, he departed with remarkable and audacious skill, which unquestionably prevented his aircraft from being hit. The casualties were delivered in good time, and in good order; and despite their injuries, they all survived.

Even within the context of a busy period and a high threat environment, Flt Lt Townsend faced myriad challenges. Had it not been for his remarkable composure and professionalism, any one of these three incidents could have resulted in the loss of his aircraft and crew. He displayed airmanship, captaincy and measured courage of the highest order, all of which combine to describe a thoroughly deserving recipient of the Hugh Gordon-Burge Memorial Award.

The Award was presented at the Guild's annual 'Trophies and Awards Banquet' at the London Guildhall at the end of last month.

See also: http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/407820-fortune-name-fortunate-nature.html#post6045451

GAPAN - The Guild of Air Pilots & Air Navigators (http://www.gapan.org)



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