Hansford: British pilot received Medal of Honor for fighting Daesh
Tuesday 27/November/2018 - 02:53 PM
توماس هانزوفورد
Shaima Hafezy
The British pilot, Thomas Hansford, was awarded the honorary medal of the
Distinguished Flying Cross for performing a daring mission during the nine-hour
transfer of a fighter jet, which resulted in the destruction of four trucks
carrying explosive devices belonging to Daesh in Syria.
Hansford is a lieutenant pilot and his first mission was traversing the massive
thunderstorm when his targets were more than a mile from each other during a
coalition offensive in September last year.
According to the Mirror newspaper, he and another pilot were patrolling the
skies of Hawija in Syria for five hours as an aide to the US-based Democratic
Syrian Forces, known as Qusd, at a time when he had to sail his fighter jet
through thunder storms.
The medal received by the pilot recognizes a work of valor, courage or loyalty
to duty while flying in active operations against the enemy.
A ceremony to identify the heroes of the British armed forces at Buckingham
Palace is planned for next year.
Daesh’s vehicles, aimed at killing and causing more terrorism in the area, were
obstacles on the way to Hawija, near the Syrian border with Iraq.
Hansford was able to return to his Mediterranean base in Cyprus. "I am
very proud that I have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, but I am
fortunate to be in this position and I trust that any other pilot on the
squadron would have achieved equal
success if assigned the same task.”
"There will be no cyclone operations against a possible advocate without
teamwork and the constant support of our ground crew and refueling units in the
air," he said.
"Air Lieutenant Hansford offered exceptional leadership, wisdom and
courage during his first mission as a pilot. One mistake could have led to the
failure of the mission and a direct threat to friendly forces on the
ground," he said.
The award was launched on June 3, 1918, the birthday of King George V, and the
medal takes the shape of the Silver Cross, designed by Edward Carter Preston.
