The Grand Master’s Commendation

Awarded at the discretion of the Grand Master for an act of valour or outstanding services in the air.

2010 awarded twice to: CAPTAIN MATTHEW NOBLE-CLARKE AAC and also to 51 SQUADRON RAF

 Captain (now Major) Matthew Noble-Clarke joined the Attack Helicopter Force (AHF) in 2006.  Between then and mid 2010 he completed four tours in Afghanistan and was the first Apache pilot in the AHF to have amassed over 1,000 hours of operational flying in that theatre.  His average tour interval in that period was just five months, and he has spent 19 months deployed in a period of three and a half years, a phenomenal achievement to which he committed voluntarily and without rancour or fanfare.

An extremely experienced and naturally gifted aviator he is a master of commanding AH on operations.  These qualities have extended to the intense demands of Air Mission Command, invariably a task assumed by the senior AH commander, and at the most taxing end of the spectrum of aviation delivery in Afghanistan.  Such a role could, and in his case regularly did, require command and coordination of up to 15 aircraft, of multiple types and from multiple nations, over several waves, and in contact with the enemy.  He is in a class of his own in this role.  His experience has also made him an ideal mentor to less experienced Air Mission Commanders of any rank, and he always offers help and advice with patience and humility.  He has exploited his experience to develop and adapt AH tactics, techniques and procedures to the constantly changing threat.   

Every one of his tours has been marked by peerless commitment and professionalism.  He is unswervingly progressive and has been the main catalyst for a host of positive changes in AH procedures, many of which have also benefited the four other aircraft types in the Joint Helicopter Force (Afghanistan).  He has had a measurable and enduring influence on the operational development of UK AH capability; indeed it would be difficult to imagine an aviator who has contributed more to the operational output of AH over the last four years.  Captain Noble-Clarke has been under fire as a matter of routine; he has attained and maintained the very highest standards of military aviation delivery; he has become a class leader in AH support to Special Forces operations; and he has cheerfully endured countless exhausting days in 50 degree heat in support of our ground forces.  He is deservedly awarded the Grand Master’s Commendation.

No. 51 Squadron operated the Nimrod R1 and was the sole provider of manned airborne electronic surveillance to the United Kingdom before its withdrawal from service earlier this year.  Having operated in direct support of every major UK and coalition military operation since the Nimrod R1 came into service in 1974, the men and women of No. 51 Squadron have become synonymous with the provision of an extraordinary Signals Intelligence product to war-fighters and Theatre Commanders as well as other Government and coalition agencies. From the Cold War through campaigns such as Iraq, Sierra Leone and on to present day Afghanistan, the Nimrod R1 has been a consistent contributor to, virtually every operational landscape for 37 years.

The Nimrod R1 has been present over Afghanistan since the commencement of operations there in 2001 and the contribution of No.51 Squadron throughout has been remarkable. With the advent of ‘Operation Herrick’ in 2006, it was apparent that a capability such as the Nimrod R1 would be pivotal to a successful campaign. A significant equipment upgrade in 2008 meant that the Nimrod R1 product was further enhanced, to the degree whereby today it is acknowledged as the electronic surveillance platform of choice for Coalition Commanders in theatre.

The Nimrod R1 deployed in support of ‘Operation Herrick’ for the final time in early May 2010. This last deployment became the longest continuous deployment in the Squadron's history; flying 159 operational sorties and 1,177 flying hours. The enduring nature of this commitment provided considerable engineering, logistic, operational and personnel challenges, all of which were met with alacrity by the air and ground crews. Without doubt, this gold standard capability has been missed since its withdrawal from the Afghan theatre of operations at the end of March 2011.

The venerable Nimrod R1 led from the front since 1974.  Such is the high esteem in which it was held, before its withdrawal from service, the Nimrod R1 was granted a 90âday extension of service to meet a requirement for contingent operations that no other platform could provide. There could be no more apposite illustration of the value of this aircraft and its crews to UK Defence.  The men and women of No.51 Squadron, past and present, can be justifiably proud of their outstanding contribution to operations. Theirs is a monumental and unequalled achievement enduring over almost four decades, and one for which No.51 Squadron is awarded the Grand Master's Commendation.

Previous Winners

1982 Captain Drennen - Army Air Corps

1983-85 Not Awarded

1986 Len R Carolan Esq - Sec. Australian Region

1987-88 Not Awarded

1989 Darrol Stinton Esq

1990 Not Awarded

1991 28 (AC) Squadron RAF and Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force

1992 Professor Helen Muir

1993 The Crew of S61-A Helicopter (Royal Malaysian)

1994 Not Awarded

1995 The Red Arrows Winter Tour 1995/96

1996 Frank Wootton Esq

1997 Major N O'Brien

1998 Willam G Scull

1999 Sdn Ldr Frederick Dacosta, Sqd Ldr P Day

2000 No7 Squadron Royal Air Force

2001 Squadron Leader Richard Phillips

2002 Peter Charles Tait

2003 Flight Lieutenant Jonathan Paul Michael Adamson RAF

2004 Sqn Ldr John Hector Francis McNeilL-Matthews

2005 202 Squadron Royal Air Force

2006 Number 1 (Fighter) Squadron Royal Air Force

2007 Royal Air Force Odiham Chinook Force

2008 The Crew of "Blackcat 22"

2009 Flight Lieutenant Ian Fortune DFC

2010 awarded twice to:  Captain Mathew Noble-Clarke AAC and also to 51 Squadron RAF