Operational Honours List

[Climebear]

Congratulations to all those recognised in the operational Honours List

Link Thingies: MOD Article Full List RAF Awards

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Group Captain Neil William George LAIRD, Royal Air Force

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Squadron Leader Matthew David ROBERTS, Royal Air Force

Air Force Cross (AFC)
Flight Lieutenant Stephen Douglas BADHAM, Royal Air Force
Flight Lieutenant James Patrick Michael DONOVAN, Royal Air Force

Queen's Gallantry Medal (QGM)
Warrant Officer Stephen Charles BOWDEN, Royal Air Force

Mention in Despatches (MiD)
Flight Lieutenant Adam Thomas Owen BOOTH, Royal Air Force
Flight Lieutenant Andrew Neil SCRASE, Royal Air Force
Flight Lieutenant Jonathan Arvind SINGH, Royal Air Force

Queen's Commendation for Bravery (QCB)
Lance Corporal Richard John RADCLIFFE, Royal Air Force

Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service (QCVS)
Squadron Leader Gerard John Julian CURRIE, Royal Air Force
Sergeant Robert James MOYLAN, Royal Air Force
Squadron Leader Catherine Ann ROGERS, Royal Air Force
Warrant Officer Gareth WILLIAMS, Royal Air Force
Flight Lieutenant Richard John WOOLLS, Royal Air Force
Chief Technician David Edward COLLINS, Royal Air Force

Squadron Leader Roberts led his crew on three medical missions recovering four Category A casualties, the second of which was conducted under the most extreme enemy threat.

Tasked to recover two US casualties, Squadron Leader Roberts and his crew routed to the area in their Chinook, along with an Apache helicopter escort, knowing that there was still a major fire fight ongoing.

With US aircraft engaging targets in the vicinity of the casualties, Squadron Leader Roberts initially held off over the desert while the Apache attempted to gain situational awareness. He then directed his crew to carry out a confidence check of the aircraft weapon systems when the port minigun suffered an unrecoverable stoppage, effectively rendering the port side of the aircraft undefended:

"When a weapon fails it then is a question of mission imperative, whether you carry on or not," he said.​

It was at this point that an update was received informing them that one of the casualties had died of his wounds and the second was rapidly deteriorating:

"In these situations you don't think twice. It just meant we had to try and keep the enemy on our right-hand side."​

With a reported lull in the fire fight, Squadron Leader Roberts decided to ingress to the landing site but spotted the ground forces and splash from enemy small arms fire all around the helicopter landing site, followed by the distinctive noise of rounds impacting the aircraft:

"We fly an amazing helicopter, it took it well and nothing mission critical was hit," he said with incredible calmness.​

His citation says that he displayed the very highest levels of courage in placing his aircraft on the ground as the fire fight again intensified. With mortar fire and two rounds bracketing the aircraft, the body of the dead soldier and the critically wounded casualty were quickly loaded:

"The guys at the back were feeding me great situational info all the time, which gave me confidence. They helped me hold it all together," he said.​

Surrounded by the enemy, Squadron Leader Roberts took off and was engaged immediately, the aircraft suffering hits to the fuselage. He led his crew with calmness, inspiring them to persevere through the most dangerous conditions. His captaincy, airmanship and gallantry were of the highest order:

"Listening to the citations of the others has been utterly humbling. We have the utmost respect for the land forces that we ship off the back of our helicopters," he said.

"To listen to what the guys who step off the back have achieved, some of them only twenty years old, is very humbling. This award I hope will let them know that we will always be there to come and get them."​

In April 2010 RAF firefighters, based at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, raced to help their US colleagues in helping to fight a massive fire at neighbouring Camp Leatherneck. One of the first to arrive at the scene was RAF Force Fire Officer, Warrant Officer (WO) Stephen Bowden, based at RAF Coningsby. He immediately recognised the severity of the situation and assumed control of the incident. A catastrophic dust storm, with gusting wind drove the fire and reduced visibility down to metres. The combination of the dust storm and inferno was a grave threat to WO Bowden and his team’s lives. WO Bowden was the last to withdraw from the fire and was exposed to personal danger in accounting for all his men.

WO Bowden and his team went back and tackled the inferno, halting it on the opposite side of the street to the bulk fuel installation containing a significant quantity of fuel. Despite regular explosions, as there were gas cylinders in the area, Bowden led his team, deep into the heart of the blaze to push the flames back and relieve the pressure on the threatened fuel installation. Despite disabling smoke injuries to the eyes, WO Bowden remained in post until the end of the fire. His courageous efforts in leading his team minimised injury and prevented loss of life. WO Bowden was awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal: ‘I would like to thank all my family and friends for their support whilst deployed overseas. On this award, to use a well spoken phrase, I couldn’t have done it without my team and I am so proud of all of them.’

 

[karlosondet]

Congratulations to you all!

 

[ailiebird]

Brave Man

Brave Man

Acting Sergeant Dipprasad Pun used up all of his ammunition and resorted to using his machine gun tripod to repel the attack in Afghanistan in September

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12854492

 

[Oberon305]

Must say, I don't know any of the others, but Matt Roberts and Steve Badham....bloody nice chaps.

Congrats to all of them though.DT_Xtremez_28:

 

[Max]

So as a fireman he helped put out a fire, Well done you!

 

[SirSaltyHelmet]

So as a fireman he helped put out a fire, Well done you!

Says the keyboard warrior! Someone deemed the fireman worthy

 

[morse1001]

So as a fireman he helped put out a fire, Well done you!

if you take that attitude, then military personnel, should not get any such recognition as medals and honours, as they are only doing their job.

 

[CC]

I was in BSN when that fire started in Leatherneck and all I'll say is that it was massive, and I mean HUGE, never mind the dust storm that also kicked off.

I was told that without the Brit FFtrs, it would have been much worse as the Yanks couldn't cope.

So I say well done to WO Bowden and his brave FFtrs DT_Xtremez_14:

 

[mememe]

I think it is a shame that more RAF are not recognised in these operational areas. The numbers on these list seem pretty low. The Army, even the Navy do a great job (wash my mouth out) writing up their guys...Why don't we?

 

[Drill Bit]

So as a fireman he helped put out a fire, Well done you!

Bit of an ignorant comment. We'll look forward to passing comment on your Op Honour(s)

 

[GD on Wheels]

So as a fireman he helped put out a fire, Well done you!

By showing immense bravery by putting his life above all others to save many and to guide his men out of a near fatal situation.

 

[SirSaltyHelmet]

The two bravest things that Max has done are hide under a screen name on the Goat, and play knock and run on the Duty Clerk's door!

 

[firestorm]

So as a fireman he helped put out a fire, Well done you!

Congratulations for winning the c0ck of the week award. The only award you're ever likely to win.

 

[shettie]

Max - wind yer neck in you tw4t!

 

[keef31]

I agree with Max, Fftr's doing their job!!! Well done about time they did something instead of driving round all day.

 

[Climebear]

I agree with Max, Fftr's doing their job!!! Well done about time they did something instead of driving round all day.

He was a firefighter doing his job, just as the aircrew, soldiers, marines, gunners, medics etc were doing theirs. However, all of these individuals went beyond what is expected of them and gave rightly been recognised. Reading their citations is, or should be, humbling.

 

[Pikeman]

So according to Max' and keef's logic, the EOD lads should not get anything for just doing their job.

I sugest you read whats written on the citation. Print it off on a thick piece of paper, roll it up and shove it up your hoop DT_Xtremez_35:

 

[Drill Bit]

I agree with Max, Fftr's doing their job!!! Well done about time they did something instead of driving round all day.

Is that because it's you turn to use the brain you and max share?

 

[Pikeman]

I just want to add, that I think some of the other ones they kick out are complete b0ll0cks. Some of the sporting/singers/actors do you leave you wondering why!

 

[the lovetoad]

I just want to add, that I think some of the other ones they kick out are complete b0ll0cks. Some of the sporting/singers/actors do you leave you wondering why!

I was wondering why they would be in the Operational Honours List too???

Just wanted to add congratulations to all on the list - thoroughly deserved despite what Max and Keef may think!