DFC's for Odiham pilots

[John Eacott]

Queen’s salute to helicopter heroes
By David Connop Price ([email protected])
(http://www.thisishampshire.net/news/hampshirenews/display.var.1466109.0.queens_salute_to_helicopter_heroes.php #comments_form)
http://www.thisishampshire.net/_images/db/55/48/basdcpdfc01_5078887_.554807.full.jpgMajor Mark Hammond
THE Queen presented three RAF Odiham helicopter pilots with medals for their exceptional courage and outstanding flying in Afghanistan.
Flight Lieutenants Christopher Haslar and Craig Wilson and Major Mark Hammond, all from 18(B) Squadron, received the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace, which coincided with the squadron's redeployment to the war-ravaged country.
The squadron's commanding officer, Wing Commander Richard Mason, said: "It is an incredibly proud moment for the squadron and I am delighted for the personnel involved."
Major Hammond, 39, a Royal Marine Chinook pilot on exchange with 18(B) Squadron, overcame his aircraft being hit to rescue two casualties on September 6, 2006.
Skilful flying enabled him to evacuate a casualty while under rifle and machine gun fire, before having to abort another rescue when his helicopter was hit.
Back at base, he jumped into a spare aircraft and returned to rescue the casualty, still facing machine gun and rocket grenade fire.
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Flt Lieut Wilson, 31, rescued two soldiers with life-threatening injuries in one day in Helmand province, despite having little night-flying experience in the country.
On June 11, 2006, he rescued one casualty in dangerous conditions, and later made another difficult landing before returning to base when nearly out of fuel.
http://www.thisishampshire.net/_images/db/55/48/Odiam_Haslar_5078870_.554808.full.jpgFlight Lieutenant Christopher Haslar
Then, having been on duty for over 20 hours, he volunteered to deliver reinforcements to help a threatening ground situation.
A month later in the same province, Flt Lieut Haslar, 26, earned his DFC on two missions.
On July 7, he surprised the enemy by landing troops and stores in a site surrounded by three buildings. His rotor blades were spinning inches above a rooftop. Any error could have brought the helicopter down.
The following week he landed reinforcements while under gun and rocket grenade fire.
5:09pm Tuesday 12th June 2007
http://www.thisishampshire.net/_images/db/55/48/Odiham_wilson_5078877_.554809.th64.jpg (http://www.thisishampshire.net/news/hampshirenews/zoom.php?imid=554809)
Flight Lieutenant Craig Wilson (http://www.thisishampshire.net/news/hampshirenews/zoom.php?imid=554809)


Link to Hampshire News. (http://www.thisishampshire.net/news/hampshirenews/display.var.1466109.0.queens_salute_to_helicopter_heroes.php )

[Seldomfitforpurpose]

Warmest congrats to all 3 of them but please spare a thought for the 3 other brave souls on each aircraft whose contribution enabled these awards. I know the world isn't fair but it somehow seems unjust that they have to go officially unrecognised :(

edited to emphasise this is not a "sour grapes" style post just a simple observation

[c-bert]

Congrats to all of 18(B) Sqn and the rest of the Odiham boys & girls. BZ.

[Tim Mills]

And all who do what I was never called upon to do when I was in the RAF in cold war days. I often wonder how I would have coped.

Full marks

[Rath89]

Seldomfitforpurpose has a hugely valid point, i believe a crewmen was recently awarded a MiD on a sortie, for running out of the back of his Chinook and delivering covering fire with his rifle for the troops that had just disembarked! Extremely brave. But also huge congratulations to the DFC pilots. Well deserved.