David Hayden (RAF airman)
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David James Hayden, MC (born c. 1979) is the first Royal Air Force non-commissioned officer to be awarded the Military Cross.
c. 1979 (age 46–47)
David Hayden | |
|---|---|
| Born | David James Hayden c. 1979 (age 46–47) Germany |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Branch | Royal Air Force |
Service years | 1997–present |
Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | RAF Regiment |
Conflicts | War in Afghanistan Iraq War |
| Awards | Military Cross |
Early life
Hayden was born in Germany and attended the Gleed Boys' School in Spalding, where he grew up. His father (who died in June 2005, aged 49) was a tank driver in the Queen's Royal Hussars, becoming a warrant officer class 2.[1]
RAF service
Hayden joined the RAF Regiment in 1997 and after a number of tours including time with No. 2 RAF Force Protection Wing at RAF Leeming – with which he served in Afghanistan for the first time – he is currently a sergeant.[2] He is a qualified instructor.
While serving in Iraq in 2007, as part of No. 4 RAF Force Protection Wing (of which 1 Squadron is a sub-unit), he showed outstanding courage while commanding a dismounted patrol in a fight against an insurgent force, repeatedly risking his own life to rescue a wounded comrade and extract his team.[3] His Military Cross was gazetted on 7 March 2008.[4]
