Royal Air Force Sea King crew hailed for Cumbrian flood rescues at Shephard 2010 SAR Awards
A rescue helicopter crew from 22 Sqn 'C' Flight of the UK's Royal Air Force have become the first winners of the new annual Shephard SAR award.
The crew of Rescue 122 - aircraft captain Wg Cdr Steve Bentley, co-pilot Flt Lt Giles Ratcliffe, radar/winch operator Sqn Ldr 'Spike' White and winch man Sgt Keith 'Bestie' Best - was the first RAF SAR crew to arrive at Cockermouth, the town at the epicentre of the devastating Cumbria floods in November 2009.
Flying in from RAF Valley in North Wales, the crew ultimately flew virtually non-stop for more than 11 hours,
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