RAF Michelle praised for bravery

RAF chiefs at a Shropshire airbase today praised a former trainee who has just been given a Distinguished Flying Cross - the first woman to receive the award.Flight Lieutenant Michelle Goodman, 31, captained a Merlin helicopter into an extremely dangerous area of Basra City to rescue a fallen soldier on June 1 last year.

Flt Lt Goodman flew with night goggles into a dust cloud and was under attack from mortars, machine gun fire and rocket-propelled grenades.

She landed her helicopter and extracted medics and the injured man during the mission in Basra.

Flt Lt Goodman trained at RAF Shawbury at the Defence Helicopter Flying School. She graduated in 2004.

Today RAF Shawbury spokesman, Squadron Leader Martin Locke, said: "We are absolutely delighted to hear about Michelle's award, which recognises her outstanding skill and bravery.

"The training carried out by the Defence Helicopter Flying School is second to none and is designed to prepare military helicopter aircrew for the immense challenges and responsibilities they will meet in their operational flying.

"I am sure the population of Shropshire would be proud to know of Michelle's achievement."

Flt Lt Goodman, who is from Bristol, and based at RAF Benson in South Oxfordshire, was among a number of Royal Air Force personnel honoured on Friday for exceptional courage on duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, at a press conference held in central London.

Flt Lt Goodman's station commander, Group Captain Paul Lyall, said: "She would be the first to say that any of her colleagues would have shown the same skill and courage.

"She is humbled to be the first female recipient of a Distinguished Flying Cross," he added.

"All of us at Royal Air Force Benson salute her actions, and those of the other three crew members that supported her.

"Flight Lieutenant Goodman's actions were in the finest traditions of the Royal Air Force and we are very proud of her."