Firefighters praised over Bastion attack 24.01.13
28Seven RAF firefighters who helped fight off a Taliban attack on Camp Bastion have been honoured for their service in Afghanistan at a ceremony at the Palace of Westminster.
In September last year 15 Taliban fighters breached the perimeter armed with suicide vests, rocket propelled grenades and small arms. Two American soldiers were killed and six US Harrier jets destroyed.
The firefighters received their Afghanistan Operational Service Medals from the deputy Serjeant at Arms, retired Group Captain Mike Naworynsky.
He said: "Without firefighters you can't fly planes, and they are there making sure planes can fly safely and to react to situations like the Camp Bastion attack. Without them things don't happen and without them things would have been a whole lot worse."
The Royal Air Force Fire and Rescue service are amongst the first to deploy on any air operations but they don't always get the recognition they deserve. This ceremony was a rare chance to take centre stage.