DFC for helo pilot

By Pte John Wellfare

AUSTRALIAN Army helicopter pilot Maj Scott Watkins has been awarded the UK Distinguished Flying Cross for his service on exchange with the British Army in Iraq.

Announced in the UK’s most recent Operational Honours list, published on September 8, Maj Watkins received the medal for his actions while flying in support of the 1st Black Watch Battlegoup.

CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy congratulated Maj Watkins on the award and said he had “proved himself to be a cool and courageous pilot” during the support missions.

“Despite a very real threat to his aircraft, he repeatedly placed himself in exposed positions in order to provide support to other aircraft and the ground forces they were supporting,” Lt-Gen Leahy said.

“In the opinion of the Commanding Officer of the Black Watch, Maj Watkins’ actions undoubtedly saved the lives of a number of soldiers in the battlegroup.”

One of the incidents that contributed to Maj Watkins’ decoration was reported in Army on November 18 last year. He took control of the British Lynx helicopter, in which he was the co-pilot, after its pilot was injured by small-arms fire while flying in support of Black Watch operations south of Baghdad.

Then-Capt Watkins, who was not injured in the attack, piloted the helicopter to a nearby coalition base, Camp Dogwood, and the pilot was evacuated to hospital.

Maj Watkins served with 161 Recce Sqn before his exchange posting to the British Army.

Previous Army newspaper coverage of Maj Scott Watkins in Iraq can be found at http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1110/topstories/story01.htm and http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1109/topstories/story20e.htm