Operational Honours and Awards

[Gainesy]

The length of the list speaks for itself.

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/HistoryAndHonour/OperationalHonoursAndAwardsList7March2008.htm

[Algy]

If you were there then you've heard them - pretty awe-inspiring stuff for the rest of us. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/mar/07/military.afghanistan)

[Al R]

All worthy of massive respect, but 2 stand out.

Flight Lieutenant Michelle Goodman, of the Royal Air Force, is the first woman to win a Distinguished Flying Cross. She was Aircraft Captain of an Incident Reaction Team (IRT) Merlin Helicopter. Told of a serious casualty in central Basra City on 1 June 2007, she chose to fly into an extremely dangerous area. Flying on night goggles and under very heavy fire she landed next to the casualty and extracted him, despite mortar rounds landing nearby. Without the IRT, the casualty would have died within 15 minutes.

Corporal David Hayden, of the RAF Regiment, is the first Airman to receive the Military Cross. In a particularly ferocious battle against a determined group of insurgents, involving a fully dismounted patrol in Iraq, Hayden repeatedly showed the most outstanding courage, selflessness and personal example. With absolute disregard for his own safety he repeatedly risked his own life in order to rescue a wounded comrade and extract his combat team.

Congratulations to all. :D

[November4]

Well deserved recognition for many of whom who will say I didn't think I was doing anything special. I was helping my mates out like they would do for me.

as did Pte Luke Cole MC

[Fareastdriver]

Flight Lieutenant Michelle Goodman,
Being a KOS who flew in the RAF before women pilots were thought of all I can say is.
CONGRATULATIONS, WELL DONE, BLOODY GOOD.

[Sand4Gold]

:DCongratulations to all the recipients:D

AA

[Lurking123]

A Freedom of Peterborough march with medals clanking, methinks.

Well done to all.:D

[airborne_artist]

I didn't think I was doing anything special. I was helping my mates out like they would do for me. as did Pte Luke Cole MC

Who is a TA soldier - and drives a fork-lift truck when he's not on the front line. I think his is the second TA MC.

[Jackonicko]

They are all stars. And lots of them look very young to these old eyes!

What a superb 'poster girl' for women pilots. Smart, professional, articulate, confident and impressive (and yes, attractive too). And the circumstances of her award make it clear that she's good at what she does, too. Bloody well done, Michelle.

Poor old Torps didn't look well, though.

[TheWizard]

Congratulations to all the recipients who showed outstanding bravery and courage wherever and whatever they were doing.

A special mention to one of our own who we are all very proud of, along with her crew that day, Flt Lt Michelle Goodman:D:D

For those that never saw the article in the Sun newspaper a few weeks back, here it is again

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article748881.ece

:ok:

[Kitbag]

Sad to see there were a couple of posthumous awards in there too.

Thankful I am unlikely to be tested in the way these people have been.

[Big Unit Specialist]

Commanding Officer of 1 Sqn RAF Regiment, Squadron Leader Jason Sutton, aged 42 from Watford, received the OBE for his outstanding leadership over a relentless six-month detachment and making a safe and secure area around Basra Air Station. He lost three of his gunners on 19 July 2007 when a rocket attack struck his Squadron's accommodation. A further six were injured, but he motivated his men to continue delivering all tasks, including lethal use of snipers which struck terror into the hearts of the enemy. At Al-Waki he placed himself in the thick of the fire fight which tested his resourcefulness to the full.
:ok:

[teeteringhead]

Commanding Officer of 1 Sqn RAF Regiment, Squadron Leader Jason Sutton, aged 42 from Watford, received the OBE ..and all the more praiseworthy when one considers that "par" for an OF-3 (Lt Cdr/Maj/Sqn Ldr) is an MBE - it is scarcely known for anyone to get above par - I can only recall one other ever...........

[Al R]

I didn't see that. Well done OC 1 and I'm proud and as pleased as punch for them all. Strange to see Sunray at the sharp end, but it is the curse of an infanteer to need to test himself. Doing the drills on exercise is all very well, but (from my experience) I was racked with insecurity and the nagging need to see if I could work as advertised when the **** hit the fan, whatever happened.

1 Sqn (and 504) has certainly had a busy time and SRDG tag or not, the RAF Regiment has done itself proud over the past 5 years or so. Squadron Leader Sutton will have bittersweet thoughts today and Matthew, Peter and Christopher won't be too far from his thoughts I'm sure. Forgive me for being a little mawkish - I'm also chuffed to bits for the decoration winners.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44012000/jpg/_44012856_threeservicemen_203mod.jpg

Also;

Mention in Dispatches (MiD): SAC Wharton - 1 Sqn RAF Regt

Queen's Commendation for Bravery (QCB): Sgt Bainbridge - 1 Sqn RAF Regt

Queen's Commendation for Bravery (QCB): SAC Stinson - 1 Sqn RAF Regt

[RRAAMJET]

If you monitor these threads, Michelle, outstanding stuff and a big :ok: to your crew, as well!

[Magic Mushroom]

Enormous congratulations to all and my thoughts are with the families of those posthumous recipients.

As an aside, I noticed in the description of Flt Lt Goodman's act on the MoD website the following comments:

...whilst flying tactically on Night Vision Goggles at very low level across a hostile city...

Perhaps a few of those low flying complainants may wish to reflect on this outstanding act which directly enabled a young life to be saved. It may perhaps place into perspective the few seconds of noise that they have to endure, and illustrate that such flying skills remain very relevant in modern ops.

Regards,
MM

[Occasional Aviator]

MM, cheers, bang on the button again!

My congratulations to Michelle (I know first-hand that she's a very good pilot).

[Old Ned]

Right. Now that you can clearly see (a Noo Labour expression) just what outstanding people you've got doing your dirty work Broon, how about giving them some decent kit!

[Big Unit Specialist]

Sqn Ldr Sam Potter - The Doc at Basrah, one of those who went in with the IRT to get the injured 1 Sqn lads out - a well-deserved MiD:ok:

[Brian Abraham]

Well done to all the fine folk and congratulations. Stay safe.

Flight Lieutenant Michelle Goodman

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m56/babraham227/z.jpg

Ministry of Defense© Crown Copyright/MOD 2007

[dangermouse]

and I am sure everyone at Westlands is extremely proud to supply the kit for these sort of people who are willing to serve.

fly safe boys and girls.

DM

[right chopper]

It's good to see the Merlin Force recognised for their efforts in Iraq too....it's not all Wokka Wokka (and that's from a Wokka mate).
Well done Michelle et al :D

[cliffnemo]

Congrats , But What About The Girls Of The Air Transport Auxiliary They Were Pilots When Pontious Was A Pilot.
Cliff.

[Magic Mushroom]

Congrats , But What About The Girls Of The Air Transport Auxiliary They Were Pilots When Pontious Was A Pilot.
Cliff.

Oh FFS. The ATA have just been recognised although I feel Bomber Command are a more worthy case. However, this thread has nothing to do with that.:rolleyes:

[Chugalug2]

Like everyone else I am full of pride and admiration for the quiet courage of these two especially. Whatever the political argy that goes on back home they and their colleagues demonstrate in the finest way possible that the highest standards of conduct still pertain in the Royal Air Force and leave an old BOF feeling choked. Respect to them both and all who stand between us and danger! :D

[Occasional Aviator]

I spent quite a long time yesterday looking at the operational honours on the MoD website, and I don't mind admitting that I was close to tears a lot of the time. In almost equal measure I feel pride, awe and admiration, as well as a fair dash of anger that so many people don't know and don't care what is going on right now.

[Melchett01]

Well done to all, but a huge well done to Michelle - it couldn't have happened to a nicer person and a damn good driver.

[Brian Abraham]

Coverage from AVweb today. Three tours? Time for a break?

Michelle Goodman's Historic Distinguished Flying Cross

For the first time, the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) has been awarded to a woman, Flight Lieutenant and helicopter pilot Michelle Goodman, 31, of the Royal Air Force. Flight Lieutenant Goodman earned the medal by last June flying her Merlin helicopter through heavy fire and mortar rounds into the center of Basra, Iraq, at night to rescue a seriously injured soldier. She flew at 160 mph at very low level across a hostile city using night vision goggles; her aircraft was hit with enemy fire and she executed an approach and landing at an unfamiliar landing site that was taking mortar fire and shrouded in swirling dust. Goodman kept the aircraft on the ground for a full five minutes as her crew retrieved the injured rifleman. She then flew her aircraft, which detected a missile threat and automatically launched countermeasure flares, through a path covered very closely with friendly artillery fire to distract enemy forces. Flight Lieutenant Goodman could have elected not to take on the mission at all, determining that it required too much risk, "But if it was me lying down there," she told The Daily Mail, "I'd like to think there was someone prepared to come and get me."

The aircraft touched down at a British Field Hospital 14 minutes after launch. Before the flight, Goodman had asked her crew if they were up to the task and they agreed. Without Goodman's leadership, and her Incident Reaction Team, the wounded man would have died within 15 minutes. Goodman has completed three tours in Iraq. The DFC is one of the highest military decorations offered, below only the Victoria Cross and Conspicuous Gallantry Cross.

[Wee Jock]

Michelle Goodman, you're a class act. Stunning citation, stunning airmanship. What politicians do to deserve people like this putting their necks on the line every day I've no idea... because Brown the cardboard cutout and his mates, have no idea.
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