Congratulations Flight Lieutenant Ian ‘Abbo’ Abson
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Congratulations Flight Lieutenant Ian ‘Abbo’ Abson
Congratulations F/L Abson 
More here ...
UK Government News
Coff.
An RAF navigator has been awarded for heroism under fire while protecting civilians from attack by Gaddafi-regime forces in Libya in 2011.
Flight Lieutenant Ian ‘Abbo’ Abson was attached to the Armée de l’Air, the French Air Force, when he took part in the dangerous night-time missions near Tripoli that won him the Croix de la Valeur Militaire avec Etoile de Bronze (Cross of Military Valour with Bronze Star).
Flight Lieutenant Ian ‘Abbo’ Abson was attached to the Armée de l’Air, the French Air Force, when he took part in the dangerous night-time missions near Tripoli that won him the Croix de la Valeur Militaire avec Etoile de Bronze (Cross of Military Valour with Bronze Star).
In the citation for the medal, Flight Lieutenant Abson’s French Air Force superiors praise his ‘superb military qualities’.
It goes on to say:
On 28th March, Flight Lieutenant Abson led a patrol of 4 Mirage 2000D and 2 Rafale aircraft with distinction. During a night-time bombing mission south of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, he successfully destroyed high priority enemy buildings with several laser-guided bombs while under intense threat from ground-to-air defences.
He further showed his skill on reconnaissance missions on the 14th and 17th June when he destroyed 6 Libyan military vehicles that were about to harm the civilian population.
Thanks to his great tenacity and remarkable determination under enemy fire he directly contributed to the success of the coalition forces.
Because of his courage, his sense of responsibility and his selfless acts, he should be held as an example for our nation and he merits the award of the Cross of Military Valour with Bronze Star.
It goes on to say:
On 28th March, Flight Lieutenant Abson led a patrol of 4 Mirage 2000D and 2 Rafale aircraft with distinction. During a night-time bombing mission south of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, he successfully destroyed high priority enemy buildings with several laser-guided bombs while under intense threat from ground-to-air defences.
He further showed his skill on reconnaissance missions on the 14th and 17th June when he destroyed 6 Libyan military vehicles that were about to harm the civilian population.
Thanks to his great tenacity and remarkable determination under enemy fire he directly contributed to the success of the coalition forces.
Because of his courage, his sense of responsibility and his selfless acts, he should be held as an example for our nation and he merits the award of the Cross of Military Valour with Bronze Star.
UK Government News
Coff.
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 19th Jun 2013 at 18:51.
Good on him
But does anyone know what the medal on the chest of the guy to his right is? I know the guy. He is currently (or was when I left last year) serving on IV Sqn at RAF Valley.
BV
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Impressive.
And even more so when I read the linked article as it is the second time
he has been awarded this medal in 2 years.
And even more so when I read the linked article as it is the second time
he has been awarded this medal in 2 years.
Looks like a National Order of Merit: Orders, decorations, and medals of France - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gentleman Aviator
I know that exact equivalents are difficult to determine, but is this (these!) about equivalent to a DFC?
Much respect anyway!
Much respect anyway!
Congratulations Flight Lieutenant Ian ‘Abbo’ Abson
Thanks for the info guys. I've tried googling to find out what he did but to no avail. He certainly never mentioned it!
BV
BV
I know that exact equivalents are difficult to determine, but is this (these!) about equivalent to a DFC?
By the standards required to win gallantry awards today (in HM Forces, at least), it could be argued that all of these chaps were fortunate to get anything, since fast jets stayed largely out of harm's way thoughout. And I don't say that in a snide way - if you can achieve the task (which they undoubtedly did) while staying above the threat, why would you expose yourself to greater risk by descending? To do so could be argued to be negligent. The majority of RAF awards during Libya were therefore of the non-combatant 'well done' variety such as QCVS and other flavours of commendation.
