Awarded to an individual member of a helicopter crew, a complete crew or the crews of multiple helicopters, for an act of outstanding courage or devotion to duty in the course of land or sea search and rescue operations.

2010 awarded to:  ‘HMS CHATHAM’ LYNX – 226 FLT, 815 NAS

 

On the 21 May 2010, ‘HMS Chatham’ had been responding to a distress call from ‘MV Dubai Moon’, which had become caught in the centre of Tropical Cyclone Bandu in the Northern Indian Ocean.  The merchant ship was rolling heavily, unable to manoeuvre, largely at the mercy of the elements, and was sinking.  Having remained with the vessel for 24 hours as her condition gradually worsened, the Flight Commander Lieutenant Peter Higgins RN judged that the weather had abated sufficiently to allow flying operations and ‘HMS Chatham’ launched her Lynx on a mission to recover the 23 mariners from the stricken vessel.   After conducting a reconnaissance of the transfer area, it was clear that the cargo of cars and trucks had shifted and was causing the ‘MV Dubai Moon’ to roll from the vertical to 30-40 degrees to starboard, and that she was sinking by the bow with a significant pitching motion.

In the prevailing conditions of a sea state 6 and 35-40kts of wind, and after close consultation with the Commanding Officer, Bridge Team and Flight Deck, the aircraft launched in an attempt to recover the 23 crew, before the stricken vessel capsized or sank.  After the initial reconnaissance the Observer, Lieutenant Craig Castle RAN, determined that there was a small area immediately aft of the superstructure in which it would just be possible to put the winchman on to the heaving deck.  With the aircraft being severely buffeted in the turbulence caused by the impact of the gale force winds against the slab sided superstructure, Lieutenant Higgins fought to maintain a steady hover, using hover references limited by poor visibility, over the transfer point with the aid of calm, accurate and detailed directions from Lieutenant Castle; he was operating at the very edge of the aircraft flying envelope.  The oily conditions and angle of the deck on ‘MV Dubai Moon’ meant that a normal winch or hi-line recovery would not be possible, forcing Lieutenant Higgins to reassess the rapidly changing situation, and make a series of quick but crucial decisions to ensure he minimised the risk to his crew whilst still able to carry out the mission.  His position as sole pilot and Aircraft Commander meant he had to make these decisions whilst dividing his attention between flying, maintaining communications and while reacting to Lieutenant Castle’s directions as he relayed details of the developing scenario on deck.  This required immense concentration, close teamwork and careful prioritisation in a tense and critical situation.

The winchman, AET Wilmot, was carrying out his first live winching serial from the aircraft following his qualifying course.  On being lowered to the deck it was immediately apparent that it was covered in a thick layer of oil, which, combined with the seawater on deck meant that it was impossible to stand up.  AET Wilmot attempted to take hold of the windward rail but was unable to maintain his hold and slid down the steep and oily deck, caught only by the winch wire he was attached to, from where he was recovered into the aircraft. The flight crew quickly agreed that there were no other suitable winching points, and that the only option was to attempt to recover the stricken crew with a modification to the winching technique.  The crew of the ‘MV Dubai Moon’ were instructed to lay a rope on deck, secured to the windward rail, and AET Wilmot was lowered onto the deck in the vicinity of the rope.  Once on deck, he managed to take hold of the rope and pulled himself up to where the first of the crewmen to be rescued was located.  He secured the crewman in the double lift strop and then moved down the improvised recovery rope, ensuring they both passed clear of obstructions before being winched back into the aircraft.  Due to a combination of extreme physical exertion, and sickness which he had previously insisted he had overcome, AET Wilmot was violently sick on return to the aircraft, and assessed unable to continue with the mission.  Whilst his role in the rescue was cut short, his work on deck saved the first life, but more importantly established the method and prepared the crew of the ‘MV Dubai Moon’ for the remainder of this hazardous and highly challenging rescue operation.  

Due to severe seasickness throughout the preceding 36 hours, AET Wilmot was in a weakened physical condition, but he was undeterred and his actions should not be underestimated.  He demonstrated courage, resilience and grit to an extent that is unexpected and highly commendable in someone so junior and with no operational experience as a winchman.  Having only flown for five and a half hours prior to the rescue, the manner in which he took control of the situation on the deck of ‘MV Dubai Moon’ in extremely challenging circumstances was outstanding and set the conditions for success.

Lieutenant Commander Chesterman was visiting ‘HMS Chatham’, conducting a Ship Operational Airworthiness Audit on behalf of Navy Command HQ.  During the pre-mission planning, one of the contingencies that had been considered was to use Lt Cdr Chesterman to stand in as winchman should there be unforeseen problems in this difficult rescue.  Due to AET Wilmot becoming physically exhausted, Lt Cdr Chesterman was asked to take over as winchman.  Whilst he is a qualified Lynx Observer, Lt Cdr Chesterman had not flown for 15 years.

AET Wilmot provided a thorough brief and handover of the situation that would be encountered on the deck of ‘MV Dubai Moon’. The aircraft re-launched with Lt Cdr Chesterman now embarked as winchman to conduct a total of 22 difficult and physically exhausting transfers over a period of three hours.  His performance was superb, fighting to recover the crew from a deck which was perilously strewn with debris, slick with a thick film of oil and seawater and rolling by up to 40 degrees.  This selfless act of bravery and physical endurance was all the more impressive as the leeward guard rails had been destroyed and a mistake on his part would have resulted in the death of one of the seaman, had they fallen over board.  Despite considerable aviation experience, it was the first time that Lt Cdr Chesterman had acted as winchman in a rescue mission.  His fearless composure galvanised the Aircraft Commander and crew, whilst reassuring the survivors who placed their lives, quite literally, in his hands.  Despite the marginal weather conditions, the hazardous state of the deck and the dangerous pitch and roll of a vessel on the verge of sinking, all crewmembers were safely recovered to ‘HMS Chatham’.

The Lynx crew’s courage, sense of duty, stamina and professionalism in extraordinary circumstances, completing a rescue in an aircraft not optimised for rescue operations on this scale and with a crew largely inexperienced in the role, saving the lives of all 23 crewmembers, is remarkable and an outstanding achievement.  Lieutenant Peter Higgins, Lieutenant Craig Castle, Lieutenant Commander Chesterman and AET Wilmot are deservedly awarded the Prince Philip Helicopter Rescue Award.

Previous Winners:

1978

Captain G Bain, Captain C C Bosanquet
Captain A Campbell, B Johnstone Esq

1979

Flt Lt R E Neville, Flt Lt M J Lakey
Flt Sgt J K Moody, Flt Sgt C M Yarwood

1980

Master Air Loadmaster David Edward Bullock GC (posthumously)

1981

Lt Cdr H S Clark 825 Squadron

1982

Wessex MK3 of HMS Antrim Flight
Captain Lieutenant Commander I Stanley DSO
Lt C J Parry Sub Lt S Cooper, PO Aircrewman D B Fitzgerald

1983

PO Aircrewman John Stephen Coleman

1984

Joint Award to 826 N.A.S (Sea King) and HMS Endurance (WASP)

1985

Crew Award: Lt D Marr, POACMN M C Palmer, POACMN L Slater

1986

WO1 I D Johnstone AAC & Sgt D I Lewis REME

1987

Jeff Todd Esq

1988

Flight Sergeant Vaughan Dodsworth AFM RAF

1989

PO Aircrewman S W Wright, PO Aircrewman D S Wallace

1990

Flt Lt D Kerr-Sheppard RAF, Flt Lt D G Gow RAF
MAEOP M R Cornes, MALM W Payne

1991

Not Awarded

1992

772 Naval Air Squadron Helicopter: Lt M I P Langley, POACM A Rogers, LACMN B Buggins

1993

Flt Sgt Chris J Wood

1994

The Crew of Rescue 169: Flt Lt A Cooper, Flt Lt M Dennis, Flt Lt G Holmes, Flt Sgt. P Trethewey

1995

Rescue 25, 78 Squadron, Falkland Islands: Flt Lt M Dennis, Flt Lt T Gear, Flt Sgt. S Larke, Sgt S Labouchardiere

1996

Rescue 193 from RNAS CULDROSE:Lt B J Nicholas, Lt J M Collicutt, Lt G P Norris, POACM P J Warrington, LACM R W McKee

1997

Posthumously for William (Bill) Deacon

1997

A special award to: Crews 03, 06 and 10 of Sea Flight 810 Squadron, Royal Naval Air Station, Culdrose

1998  The Crew of the Bell 412 Helicopter VH-CFT of Careflight

1999  The helicopter pilots and crew of the South African Air Force

2000  Crew of HMS Montrose  and also Flight Sergeant Trevor Thompson AFC

2001  Crew of the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter: Peter Yates, Dr Michael Novy, Tim Thistleton, Matthew Scott, Paul Featherstone

2002  'Rescue 137' D Flight No 202 Squadron, RAF Lossiemouth

2003  Rescue 193 RN

2004  Rescue 193 (Boscastle)

2005  Rescue 193 of 771 Naval Air Squadron

2006   Crew of 'Rescue 901' 442 Squadron CAF Hong Kong Government Flying Service

2007   HMS GANNET SAR FLIGHT 'Rescue 177'   and also  RAF CHINOOK 'BLACKOUT 26'

2008   Crew of "Rescue 193" of 771 Naval Air Squadron

2009   Crew of R902, 442 Sqn Canadian Air Force

2010   "HMS Chatham" Lynx - 226 Flt, 815 NAS