Operational Honours List - Sept 11
 

Should be announced tomorrow - wonder how many more medals Odiham have won?

To those who already know - well done! :ok:

The list may be found here

Frenchie Duncan,
An AFC to add to the DFC, well done chap.

When you think of the bravery, hurt, grief, sacrifice behind each of these awards....excuse me, got some dust in my eye....

...back again. Perhaps we should start an appropriate name/inappropriate name thread. My starter is from this list:

Corporal Kate Charlotte LAWLESS, Adjutant General's Corps (Royal Military Police) QCB

Bravo Zulu to all.

On an aside, appears to be a high percentage of Para Reg blokes on the list?

I think the preponderance of particular Regiments reflects the arms plot and RIP cycle.

And of course many "Para Regt" may in fact be serving in another unit .....;)

And a CT Armourer with an award...:ooh:

And an amazing citation for that CT. Scary stuff (citation available to those with access to DII, I believe).

Reading the citation for Flight Sergeant Mark Lean a SAR winchman, reminds me of a rescue filmed by one of the TV programmes 'Highland Rescue'? Maybe the same one? I thought at the time the whole crew deserved something for that one.
:ok:
mmitch.

That's a perennial problem with multi-crew aircraft. A notorious example from the days when only the VC and MID could be awarded posthumously was the crew of a Blenheim shot down early in WW2. The captain received a posthumous Victoria Cross, while the observer and air gunner got posthumous MIDs.

Still, twas ever thus, and I can only add my sincere congratulations to all on the list, particularly to Frenchie Duncan - DFC/AFC is an impressive combination.

Re the Paras - they consistently hoover up the lion's share of the army's gallantry medals, which isnt surprising, I suppose. In the Falklands, the only two VCs both went to the Paras.

And the 12 Sqn Fairey Battle which led an atack on the Albert Canal bridges. Pilot and formation leadeer, Fg Off Garland, and Navigator, Sgt Gray, received VCs. LAC Russel, the 3rd member of the crew did not receive any award.

Albert Canal bridges Attack
 

FO Garland led the raid Sgt Grey senior Navigator/Observer on the Sqn planned the raid, the LAC Gunner took part in the raid and died along with almost all the other aircrew where every aircraft other than one was shot down and almost all crews died. The one that got back gave evidence of the sucess of the mission and the leading of the attack by Garland and Grey. All the crews on that raid were brave flying a death trap like the Battle Bomber into almost impossible flak and small arms fire.

Shame that the London Gazette does not give the citations apart abridged ones for those who were awarded QGM or QCB whilst in the UK.

Sure there are some amazing stories which will come out over time. Congratulations one and all.

There is a small video clip of the rescue on the RAF website along with more details of the incident.

I read the full story/citation here.
RAF Winchman gets bravery award: key.Aero, Military Aviation
Also a feature on Shawbury personnel awards there.
mmitch.

Outstanding effort by every one of them, but clearly my loyalty lies with RAF Odiham - another 3 level 3 awards! Incredible.....

To Frenchie - well done mon ami, awards only matched by Elvis!

Great news for the Stn though and thoroughly well deserved. A few quiet beers in the bar tonight methinks!

:D:D:D

wokkamate

I'm sure I am mistaken, but didn't I recently meet a young(ish!) pilot at Odiham with three DFCs?

Indeed you will have - we have one with 3 and one with 2. Now we have a Pilot with a DFC and an AFC, as well as a Crewman with a DFM and AFM. If there was a medal league, Odiham would surely be at the top!

And all thoroughly well deserved - just remember though, for every medal awarded there are at least 3 other crew members and probably 10 equal acts of bravery that do not get formally recognised.

:ok:

Well done Chunky - well deserved mate.