RAF Shawbury sergeant's bravery under fire wins award
A courageous RAF sergeant rescued eight wounded soldiers by fending off the Taliban with a machine gun.
Anna Irwin, who is based at RAF Shawbury, was presented with the most outstanding airman award by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at a ceremony held to honour brave service personnel.
The sergeant was part of a medical emergency response team dispatched in a Chinook helicopter to rescue the soldiers after a suicide bomb attack on their base in March.
After initially struggling to land due to enemy fire, the Chinook was eventually grounded after receiving covering fire from British troops.
Sergeant Irwin immediately lowered the aircraft's ramp and began to assist the medical team to evacuate the casualties.
She then gave calm updates to the pilot, which enabled him to keep the aircraft on the ground, despite being under fire.
Describing the incident she said: "As soon as we got the aircraft turning and burning from Bastion, we could see a massive plume of smoke – we knew something big had happened.
"Once we had landed, I dropped the ramp and I could see tracer fire – the sky was lit up with tracer – it looked like a scene from Star Wars.
"It was hairy, but what overrides that is the knowledge that there were guys down there who needed getting out."
While on the ground a rocket-propelled grenade struck close by but this still didn't deter Sergeant Irwin from rescuing her fellow troops.
She said: "At the time all you're thinking about is getting the helicopter on the ground safely and getting the casualties back as quickly as possible.
"We got everybody out."
Upon lift-off the helicopter again came under attack with the 34-year-old using a heavy machine gun bolted to the Chinook to fire at the enemy, allowing the crew to fly back to Camp Bastion.
She said: "The weapons are there for self-defence. It was the first time I'd fired in anger.
"You do what you can just to prevent them hitting us."
Sergeant Irwin was presented with her award at a ceremony held on Wednesday at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, South East London.
She said: "I feel humbled and overwhelmed to receive this award however I am accepting it in recognition of support helicopter crewmen across all the services and their commitment to operations.
"I am very proud to serve in the RAF and as part of the crew of the best helicopter in the world – the mighty Chinook."
Sergeant Irwin is currently training to be a crewman instructor at the Central Flying School, at RAF Shawbury.
