Their work has been described as some of the most demanding flying anywhere in the world, outside war zones.
JONATHAN LIEW
THEIR work has been described as some of the most demanding flying anywhere in the world, outside war zones.
Yesterday members of the Royal Navy search and rescue unit HMS Gannet were recognised for their outstanding bravery, with a remarkable eight out of the 20 air crew at the helicopter station in Prestwick being decorated in the Operational Honours List.
In the centenary year of naval aviation, the honours were awarded for exceptional courage in dangerous rescue situations, and range from Commander in Chief Fleet Commendations to the Air Force Cross, which has only been awarded to Royal Navy personnel once in the past decade.
Among the operations for which honours were awarded were the rescue of passengers from the MV Riverdance in the Irish Sea in January 2008, and a rescue at Loch Long in Argyll.
The commanding officer of HMS Gannet, Lieutenant Commander Bryan Nicholas, said: "This must be unheard of - such a high proportion of a unit amassing such a large clutch of honours at the same time.
"I really am incredibly proud of these men and the dedication and determination which they have shown in the face of substantial adversity.
"All the rescues were very different, but one thing they had in common was that they saved lives and risked their own."
The commander of the Royal Navy's Sea King force, Matt Avison, paid tribute to the outstanding bravery shown by the seven men and one woman.
He said: "If you're hanging 200 feet underneath an aircraft, that's going to challenge the courage of any individual, but to go up and down five times as they did during the Ben Nevis rescue is outstanding.
"Look at Daz Craig, on the end of a wire trying to rescue a man with a broken arm and a broken leg, being held from falling by a rope an inch thick.
"If that was a Hollywood movie, it would have been done by stuntmen, with medical teams close by. These guys do it on their own.
"In the case of Kev Regan, in a force nine gale, with the vessel reeling 50 degrees either side of the vertical, the only way he could see of getting the people off was to disconnect himself from the aircraft and disregard his own safety. That's bravery.
"The role that HMS Gannet conducts is important and challenging. That's why they've been recognised."
Lieutenant Commander Michael Lanni, who was awarded the Air Force Cross, said: "It's humbling to be in the company of guys who have been serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"This has to rate as one of the highlights of my career."
Although manned by just 110 personnel, HMS Gannet covers an area of almost 100,000 square miles, stretching from Ben Nevis in the north to the Lake District in the south, and from Edinburgh in the east to 200 miles off the coast of Northern Ireland.
The unit, which has been based at Prestwick since 1971, performs search and rescue operations on some of the UK's most varied and dangerous terrain, including mountain ranges and rough seas, as well as in the middle of cities - HMS Gannet is regularly called out to rescue people from the River Clyde.
Official figures released yesterday show the unit topped the search and rescue league for a second year in a row, rescuing 347 people in 2008, a rise of over 20% on the previous year.
The station responded to 382 call outs, greater than the 2007 figure of 359.
Lt Cdr Nicholas said: "I am incredibly proud of HMS Gannet's contribution to the UK's search and rescue organisation.
"This is a true testament to the professionalism, grit and determination not only of the aircrew, but also the maintenance and support staff which keeps our helicopters ready to fly at a moment's notice."
HMS Gannet's air crew attributed their success to the unique challenge of the Scottish landscape. Lt Mike Paulet said: "This is the best place to be based if you want some good, exciting flying.
"But you learn how quickly things can go wrong around here. These rescues just go to show how dangerous the Scottish Highlands are.
"We've just been in the right place at the right time."
Heroes one an all
Lieutenant Commander Michael Lanni Air Force Cross The active second in command at HMS Gannet, Lt Cdr Lanni led a rescue of three climbers were trapped on Ben Nevis on May 28, 2007. He said: "We were hampered by turbulence, very poor visibility. Then the lights failed and the night vision goggles snapped." After four failed attempts, the climbers and the mountain rescue team of 12 were all lifted to safety. Lt Cdr Lanni, 38, lives in Prestwick and is married with three children.
Leading Aircrewman
Kevin Regan
Queen's Gallantry Medal
LAcrw Regan, 29, was originally from Liverpool. He won the QGM for his part in a rescue in the Irish Sea off Blackpool in January 2008. The ferry MV Riverdance had lost all power and was listing badly. In heavy rain and 60mph winds, Regan was lowered on to the deck and helped 23 people to be lifted to safety.
Lieutenant Mike Paulet
Air Force Cross
Lt Paulet, 32, has been in living in Scotland for three years. He was the captain of the MV Riverdance crew. Lt Paulet said: "There was heavy rain and the seas were pretty big. Because the ship was moving around so much we had to get lifeboats to hold station."
Lieutenant Commander Martin Ford
Queen's Commendation for Bravery in the Air Florry' Ford, 45, was awarded the Air Force Cross for his rescue efforts in the Boscastle floods of 2004 as a member of Rescue 771 in Culdrose, Cornwall. He was also observer on the Ben Nevis rescue in May 2007. "I hate heights," he said.
Petty Officer Daz Craig
Queen's Commendation for Bravery in the Air PO Craig, from Penicuik, won the QCBA for a rescue of two climbers on Ben Nevis in February 2008. One had fallen 200ft down an ice wall. Craig was being thrown into the rockface by the wind but he still managed to assess the climber's injuries and lift him to safety.
The other three aircrew received Commander in Chief Flight Commendations. Lt Olivia Milles and Lt Tony Sherwin for their work on the MV Riverdance rescue, while Fl Sgt Euan Gibson was part of the May 2007 Ben Nevis rescue.
