A WATFORD airman has been rewarded for his bravery in pulling two crew members from a blazing helicopter in Iraq.
Junior technician, Darren Mallalieu, 38, was serving in Basra with the Royal Air Force (RAF), when the incident happened on Tuesday, July 19.
He was helping to load a Hercules transport aircraft with flares, when he saw a Puma helicopter coming into land.
The twin-engine helicopter, which can carry up to 20 passengers, crashed and burst into flames.
Mr Mallalieu said: "There was ammunition going off and flames everywhere. It was hell."
With the assistance of a friend who was working with him, and with no thought for his personal safety, Mr Mallalieu entered the crashed aircraft twice, and pulled out two of the crew members.
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