B*N*S*N2

RAF heroes at home and abroad honoured - Friday 6 March 2009

Thirteen RAF personnel are amongst more than 100 brave service personnel to be included in Armed Forces Operational Awards List No.32, for the period April to September 2008. Acts of bravery in the operational theatres of Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as in the UK, have been recognised.

At today’s event the award recipients were congratulated by senior representatives of their Services: Rear Admiral Simon Charlier from the Royal Navy, Lieutenant General Sir Graeme Lamb from the Army, and Air Vice Marshall Gregory Bagwell from the Royal Air Force.

Full Operational Honours and Awards List - 6 March 2009

Two of the RAF pilots - Flt Lts Kevin Harris and Alex ‘Frenchie’ Duncan – will be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross – and the third – Flt Lt Lee Turner will receive the Air Force Cross. Master Aircrewman Richard Taylor will be awarded the Queens Gallantry Medal and Corporal Simon Oswald is Mentioned in Despatches in the latest Operational and non Operational Honours and Awards.

The DFC is awarded to all ranks of the Services in recognition of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy in the air.

The Air Force Cross is awarded for gallantry in the air not in the face of the enemy and the QGM is awarded to military personnel for those acts for which military honours would not normally be granted, such as acts of exemplary bravery not in presence of the enemy.

Those personnel Mentioned in Despatches receive a public commendation in the London Gazette by order of the Sovereign. The Mention in Despatches is the oldest form of recognition of gallantry within the UK Armed Forces. Since 1993, the Mention in Despatches has been reserved for gallantry during active operations.

Go take a look here.