Recent News
RAF’s Fl Lt Goodman awarded DFC; first female to win the award
Rotorhub.com
Andrew Drwiega
March 9, 2008
Flight Lt Michelle Goodman DFCFlight Lieutenant Michelle Goodman, Royal Air Force, has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for her actions and leadership on 1 June 2007, as a Merlin AW101 aircraft commander of an Incident Reaction Team (IRT), based at Basra Air Station in Iraq. The official release narrates the events precisely and therefore we will repeat it here: “At 2315 hours on 1 June, Flight Lieutenant Goodman was alerted that there was a serious casualty following a mortar attack on an isolated British location in the centre of Basra City. Landing an aircraft at this location is assessed to be very high risk. On 1 June 2007, intelligence reports indicated a large, ‘spectacular’ attack would occur somewhere in Basra, with a helicopter being a possible target. Flight Lieutenant Goodman was fully aware of the elevated threat level throughout her sortie. Alert to the high risk, but being fully conscious of the importance of providing unfailing IRT support to ground forces, Flight Lieutenant Goodman elected to fly her approach, whilst under intense enemy direct and indirect fire. Maintaining a firm control of the situation whilst flying tactically on Night Vision Goggles at very low level across a hostile city, she commenced a most expeditious transit and approach to an unfamiliar and dangerous landing site. She continued her approach, undeterred by close friendly covering fire and even closer enemy fire which began to impact to the rear of the aircraft.
Despite the most complex approach, with numerous obstructions and ambient conditions on the limit of aviation operations, she executed a landing with few visual references bringing the aircraft in next to the casualty. The medics and Aviation Reaction Force left the aircraft as 4 mortar rounds landed in and around the location; however, she remained in full control of the situation and elected to hold the aircraft on the ground as the option with least risk. The top cover Lynx helicopter was by now reporting several substantial explosions in the area, which were believed to be either enemy mortars or RPG fire. With the casualties loaded, Flight Lieutenant Goodman departed the helicopter landing site just as further explosions occurred in close vicinity to the aircraft. Additionally, her aircraft detected a possible enemy missile engagement and automatically discharged flares as a counter measure. She departed the area, her path covered by very close friendly artillery fire to distract enemy forces. Flight Lieutenant Goodman flew rapidly from the area, making maximum use of the aircraft’s performance, crew and supporting assets to achieve a safe transit clear of the area. The aircraft landed at the British Field Hospital just 14 minutes after launch. Many IRT sorties are high risk. However, on this occasion Flight Lieutenant Goodman had to instantly weigh up the risks against the importance of recovering a serious casualty, which would impact on morale throughout the coalition. Without the IRT, the casualty would have died within 15 minutes. Despite extreme pressure, whilst in the face of the enemy, she made the right decision. This was a bold and daring sortie which undoubtedly saved life.” Flight Lieutenant Goodman is the first woman to win the DFC. She was keen to jointly credit her crew, ground support and all those who continually perform IRT tasks in Iraq and Afghanistan. The action happened during Goodman’s second tour on duty, although she has now completed three tours on Operation Telic in Iraq.
First woman DFC wears her uniform with pride
The Times
Michael Evans, Defense Editor
March 8, 2008
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3508222.ece
“This could be a bit dodgy” were the final words spoken by Flight Lieutenant Michelle Goodman to her Merlin helicopter crew before they took off to rescue a wounded comrade under heavy fire in one of the most dangerous parts of Basra last year. It was dark and dusty, and as they flew in low over the rooftops of the city there were flashes and explosions all around them. It was more than dodgy Yesterday the 31-year-old pilot was proud but bashful when she was told officially she was the first woman to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for an act of supreme bravery Flight Lieutenant Goodman, who comes from Bristol and is based at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire, knew that it was going to be a dangerous mission because the helicopter would be vulnerable to a hail of machinegun fire, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars. The crew agreed to take the risk to rescue the injured soldier, Rifleman Stephen Vause, 20, who had been under mortar attack. Flight Lieutenant Goodman, wearing night-vision goggles, flew at speeds of 160mph (260km/h) into the centre of Basra. “It was very dark, there wasn’t much moon. But we were lucky it was dark because although we were finding it difficult to see, we knew they [the armed militia] would find it difficult to see as well,” she said yesterday at the RAF Club in Piccadilly. “It was also very, very dusty so as we got to about 100ft you start losing your reference points.” They were attacked as they came in and they were attacked as they flew out. But the wounded comrade had been extracted under fire and he was lying on a stretcher and being attended to by first-aid experts. “He was in a critical condition at the time. From reports he possibly would have died,” she said. As explosions landed near the Merlin, Flight Lieutenant Goodman “put her foot down” to raise the helicopter rapidly from the ground and escape the withering mortar fire. The wounded soldier survived. Group Captain Paul Lyall, her station commander at RAF Benson, said: “Flight Lieutenant Michelle Goodman showed great gallantry in flying her helicopter into a restricted area of Basra under enemy fire to rescue a wounded soldier and speed him straight to our field hospital. “She would be the first to say that any of her colleagues would have shown the same skill and courage. But all of us at RAF Benson salute her actions and those of the other three crew members who supported her,” he said. Flight Lieutenant Goodman said: “I’m very proud to be receiving this award, and especially as the first woman.” On her decision to take the Merlin into the danger zone, she said: “I suppose you think, if it was you, you would like the crews to try their best.” Corporal David Hayden, 29, of the RAF Regiment, has become the first airman to win the Military Cross after carrying an injured colleague across 200 yards of difficult terrain while under fire in Basra in August last year. Corporal Hayden, from Spalding, Lincolnshire, rescued Leading Aircraftman Martin Beard during the battle of al-Waki market in Basra when under fire from about 50 insurgents. After hearing that his comrade had been hit he ran into the open to grab him and carry him to safety. He hoisted the wounded soldier on to his shoulder and ran for 200 yards to find shelter. “As we came back we got engaged by a guy in a doorway about 40 yards away . . . I returned fire and he fell over,” Corporal Hayden said.
HH-71 CSAR-X Team Successfully Demonstrates Aerial Refueling Flights
The Lockheed Martin and AgustaWestland HH-71 Team successfully conducted aerial refueling tests between an RAF AW101 Merlin Mk3 helicopter and an Italian Air Force KC-130J tanker, further demonstrating the aircraft’s superior capabilities and low-risk approach for the U.S. Air Force’s Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR-X) requirement.
The successful fuel transfer occurred over the south of England on February 13, marking the first time a British helicopter demonstrated air-to- air refueling capability. The AW101 and RAF test pilots successfully plugged the helicopter’s refueling probe to each of the tanker’s two wing station drogues on the first attempt. The sorties were flown at 4,000 ft altitude, with both aircraft traveling at 127 knots. All trial objectives were completed with multiple in-flight refueling events successfully achieved up to the maximum Merlin Mk3 flying weight of 34,400 lbs.
“To support our win strategy of providing the U.S. Air Force the lowest risk offer, we completed the aerial refueling tests prior to contract award,” said Dan Spoor, Lockheed Martin’s CSAR-X vice president. “With this proven aerial refueling capability, the aircraft has demonstrated all critical capabilities required for the CSAR mission. The aircraft exceeds the technical readiness level required by the CSAR-X RFP.”
All Merlin Mk3 helicopters have air refueling capability and this trial is the latest step in providing an Operational Release for in-service Merlin Mk3 helicopters fitted with the advanced design BERP III and BERP IV rotor blades.
“The robust NDI air refueling technology employed on the HH-71 combined with its excellent cockpit visibility, significant probe to blade clearance, precise handling qualities and high power margins result in the most capable, low risk aerial refueling helicopter for the CSAR-X mission,” said Stephen C. Moss, chief executive officer of AgustaWestland North America. “The fact that the fuel transfer occurred on the first attempt and that the sorties were flown with both the BERP III and the BERP IV advanced rotor systems, makes the successful trials all the more significant.”
The tests were performed through the collaboration of the HH-71 Team, Britain’s Ministry of Defence, the Italian Air Force, and the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency.
