A COURAGEOUS pilot from RAF Odiham has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross by the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

Flight Lieutenant Marc Heal, of 18 Squadron at RAF Odiham, was among military personnel from across the UK to be honoured in the Armed Forces Operational Awards, announced earlier this year.

They recognise bravery and service in Afghanistan, Iraq, and in search-and-rescue missions around the UK.

Flt Lt Heal received his honour for his valour and skill in flying into a maelstrom of enemy fire in Afghanistan to rescue 29 injured troops in a series of daring helicopter missions last July.

The 29-year-old was captaining the Chinook Immediate Response Team – known as the Flying Ambulance – through some of the most intense warfare since the conflict began in 2001.

Speaking after the presentation, Flt Lt Heal said he was very proud and honoured to receive the Queen’s award on behalf of his courageous crew.

He said: “It was a very humbling experience to be in the presence of people who had achieved so much.

“It was a day that myself and my family will never forget and I am glad I was able to share it with them.”

During a three-day period last summer, as part of Operation Panther’s Claw, Flt Lt Heal and his crew were on call day and night at the base in Camp Bastion.

At the time tensions were escalating ahead of elections, boiling over into battles against Taliban insurgents.

Frequent trips were made to evacuate badly injured troops, many suffering from gunshot wounds or horrific effects of explosions such as loss of limbs.

This meant flying into a hail of enemy bullets and dodging rockets as they landed to tend to the wounded.

Flt Lt Heal is now qualified as a Chinook instructor and uses his experiences to train other pilots at RAF Odiham.