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Helicopter pilots honoured with the RAF’s highest award
Helicopter pilots who braved fire during separate operations in Afghanistan and Iraq have been honoured with the RAF’s highest award. Flt Lt Kevin Harris, from 28 Sqn at RAF Benson and Flt Lt Alex Duncan of 27 Sqn at RAF Odiham have both been awarded the DFC for saving the lives of their crew and troops on the ground and completing their missions under extreme combat conditions.
Chinook captain Flt Lt Alex Duncan came under rocket and heavy machine gun fire during a mission to fly the Governor of Helmand Province and a group Afghan political leaders to Musa Qal’eh.
A rocket propelled grenade struck the aircraft blowing off a large section of one of the main rotors. Battling for control after losing one hydraulic system the RAF pilot manouvered clear of the danger zone and managed to fly the crippled Chinook to safety at a Forward Operating Base.
Just six days later Flt Lt Duncan was part of a night air-assault in support of 2 Para Battle Group and was engaged by rocket fire.
Facing fierce ground attack from Taliban fighters equipped with rockets and machine guns he made two combat air support sorties.
He has been praised for his bravery and ‘consummate professionalism and strength of character’ in the face of intense fire.
Merlin pilot Flt Lt Kevin Harris launched a dramatic rescue bid as the captain of an IRT team called in to lift three soldiers seriously wounded in a fire fight with militia fighters in Basrah.
Flying in low visibility the cool headed Merlin pilot braved ground fire as he flew his team at roof top level into the city.
Unable to see the wounded soldiers Harris, under heavy fire at the landing site, was forced to lift off.
Just seconds later he spotted the casualties and made another approach, facing down heavy fire while the wounded men were brought on board.
In flying conditions described as ‘minimal’ he flew at low altitude and high speed across Basrah City to the COB.
He later led his team on five other evacuations lifting more than 30 seriously injured troops. He was awarded the honour for his 'gallantry, distinguished flying and leadership'.
DFC Heroes
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Flt Lt Alex Duncan DFC
RAF Chinooks continue to prove themselves
19 June 2009
1310 Flight Royal Air Force Chinooks of Joint Helicopter Command (Afghanistan)
are providing essential support for ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) operations in Helmand Province and across Afghanistan.
As the most versatile workhorse of British air operations in theatre, 1310 Flight Chinooks have been responsible for delivering personnel and essential supplies to Forward Operating and Patrol Bases across Helmand Province, providing the Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT) helicopters for ISAF and Afghan casualty extraction and deploying combat troops against drugs factories and insurgent strongholds.
For the last two-and-a-half months 1310 Flight, headquartered at Kandahar Air Field
in Kandahar Province, has been crewed by RAF Odiham-based A Flight, 27 Squadron. And for the last five weeks it has been commanded by Chinook pilot Squadron Leader Elliot ‘Jellers’ Jardine, 37, from Doncaster.
He said: “27 Squadron and attached personnel have had a busy and rewarding tour. In 10 weeks, we’ve flown more than 1000 hours in support of ISAF operations and enabled the MERT to save numerous lives utilising our Chinook Medevac aircraft.
“We’ve mainly been working with our own British forces, and the Afghan National Army, but we’ve also worked closely with the US Army, Navy and Marines, and
Danish, Estonian and Canadian forces.”
Recent combat operations against insurgents and narcotic manufacturing facilities have seen 1310 Flight Chinooks in action at night, deploying troops into the fertile ‘Green Zone’ of the Upper Sangin Valley region bordering the Helmand river.
Sqn Ldr Jardine described the mood of the detachment: “A recent multi-aircraft,
multi-national night air-assault was the highlight of our tour.
“We successfully evaded a determined enemy, and managed to deliver a formidable fighting force into the insurgent’s ‘back garden’.”
Flight Lieutenant Rich Elford, 28, from Nottingham, one of the Chinook commanders who flew into the hostile landing zone, described the troop insertion: “As we touched down at our designated landing site - a stubble field in the Green Zone - I heard an enemy contact reported over the radio, at the same time a RPG (rocket propelled grenade) flew over the top of the aircraft.
“The troops disembarked straight into a fire-fight. As we lifted off my crewman reported seeing enemy tracer bullets arcing across the back of the aircraft.
“It was very frightening, but we all got away safely. It seemed like a miracle that
none of us were hit.”
Sergeant Larry Clark, 29, from Reading, talked about the more routine aspects of
flying over Afghanistan.
He said: “Over the tour we get to see a lot of the country. It’s very varied, and has dramatic contrasts, from the deep red sands of the desert around Kandahar to the
lush green areas of the irrigated river plains.
“This is my second tour to Afghanistan, and it will be good to get home to my family soon.”
All images Cpl. Rupert Frere, Combat Camera Team
19 June 2009
1310 Flight Royal Air Force Chinooks of Joint Helicopter Command (Afghanistan)
are providing essential support for ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) operations in Helmand Province and across Afghanistan.
As the most versatile workhorse of British air operations in theatre, 1310 Flight Chinooks have been responsible for delivering personnel and essential supplies to Forward Operating and Patrol Bases across Helmand Province, providing the Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT) helicopters for ISAF and Afghan casualty extraction and deploying combat troops against drugs factories and insurgent strongholds.
For the last two-and-a-half months 1310 Flight, headquartered at Kandahar Air Field
in Kandahar Province, has been crewed by RAF Odiham-based A Flight, 27 Squadron. And for the last five weeks it has been commanded by Chinook pilot Squadron Leader Elliot ‘Jellers’ Jardine, 37, from Doncaster.
He said: “27 Squadron and attached personnel have had a busy and rewarding tour. In 10 weeks, we’ve flown more than 1000 hours in support of ISAF operations and enabled the MERT to save numerous lives utilising our Chinook Medevac aircraft.
“We’ve mainly been working with our own British forces, and the Afghan National Army, but we’ve also worked closely with the US Army, Navy and Marines, and
Danish, Estonian and Canadian forces.”
Recent combat operations against insurgents and narcotic manufacturing facilities have seen 1310 Flight Chinooks in action at night, deploying troops into the fertile ‘Green Zone’ of the Upper Sangin Valley region bordering the Helmand river.
Sqn Ldr Jardine described the mood of the detachment: “A recent multi-aircraft,
multi-national night air-assault was the highlight of our tour.
“We successfully evaded a determined enemy, and managed to deliver a formidable fighting force into the insurgent’s ‘back garden’.”
Flight Lieutenant Rich Elford, 28, from Nottingham, one of the Chinook commanders who flew into the hostile landing zone, described the troop insertion: “As we touched down at our designated landing site - a stubble field in the Green Zone - I heard an enemy contact reported over the radio, at the same time a RPG (rocket propelled grenade) flew over the top of the aircraft.
“The troops disembarked straight into a fire-fight. As we lifted off my crewman reported seeing enemy tracer bullets arcing across the back of the aircraft.
“It was very frightening, but we all got away safely. It seemed like a miracle that
none of us were hit.”
Sergeant Larry Clark, 29, from Reading, talked about the more routine aspects of
flying over Afghanistan.
He said: “Over the tour we get to see a lot of the country. It’s very varied, and has dramatic contrasts, from the deep red sands of the desert around Kandahar to the
lush green areas of the irrigated river plains.
“This is my second tour to Afghanistan, and it will be good to get home to my family soon.”
All images Cpl. Rupert Frere, Combat Camera Team
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