Flight Lieutenant Michelle Goodman
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) - United Kingdom
Ministry of Defense© Crown Copyright/MOD 2007
Flight Lieutenant Goodman was born in Bristol on 22 November 1976 and was brought up there before completing a degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Manchester. Her Royal Air Force career began in 2000 and, following Initial Officer Training at RAF Cranwell and Initial Flying Training at RAF Shawbury, she was posted to the Merlin Force at RAF Benson in 2004. A combat-ready pilot, Flight Lieutenant Goodman has completed three tours on Operation TELIC in Iraq.
Partial citation:
The incident took place on 1 June 2007. At 2315 hours 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 and 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.
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 four 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 Rocket Propelled Grenade 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.
Daily Mail
On June 1 she was the Captain of an “Incident Reaction Team” Merlin helicopter on the outskirts of Basra.
Somewhere in the city, rifleman Stephen Vause lay critically wounded from a mortar attack. Medics believed he would survive no longer than 15 minutes unless he could be airlifted to hospital.
Flt Lt Goodman could easily have decided a rescue mission would be too dangerous to risk.
“But if it was me lying down there,” she told me yesterday, “I’d like to think there was someone prepared to come and get me.”
She asked her crew if they were prepared to take the chance and they all agreed.
“I wouldn’t have done it without asking them,” she said.
“This wasn’t going to be a one-woman show. I just told them: ‘I think this could be a bit dodgy.’ But they all wanted to go, and they were all fantastically professional.”
Using night vision goggles to pilot a path through the darkness, she flew at 160mph over the rooftops, under heavy gun and mortar fire, and landed in a massive swirl of dust.
“It was so thick it was impossible to see where we were going,” she said. “The crew could see the ground and guided me down.”
It took five anxious minutes to locate and board the casualty. For all of that time the Merlin was a sitting duck, on the ground with its rotor blades spinning.
She knew she had only one chance - because if she took off and returned later, the enemy would be ready and waiting.
Recalling the moment yesterday in the comfort of the RAF Club in Piccadilly, Michelle reveals casually it was the first time she had come under fire.
Flashes and explosions were happening all around the helicopter. Was she scared?
“It sounds odd to say it but your training just kicks in, and you just get on with it. I guess the adrenaline keeps you going - I felt like my eyes were out on stalks.”
Once the casualty was on board, she said, “I just put my foot down and got out as fast as I could”.
The Flight Lieutenant, from Bristol, discovered only on Wednesday that she was about to make history as the first female DFC.
If you liked this story, please look at these posts, as well:
Top 10 Women Who Inspired In 2007
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Michelle, you’re inspirational - keep up the exceptional service!
She’s easy on the eyes, too.
Come back in one piece, Michelle. It’s time for this war to end.