Michelle Goodman
Born 1976 · Age 49
Retired Royal Air Force officer; first woman awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and the first female officer to receive any British combat gallantry medal. Merlin helicopter pilot with multiple Iraq tours.
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Life & Career Timeline
Decided to become a pilot after Fairford Airshow
At about age 9 her parents took her to the Fairford Airshow where seeing the Vulcan flying prompted her decision to become a pilot.
Joined Bristol Grammar School
Entered Bristol Grammar School at age 11 (private day school in Bristol).
Completed A-Levels
Completed A-Levels in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry at Bristol Grammar School.
Began Aerospace Engineering at University of Manchester
Enrolled in a four-year Aerospace Engineering degree program (integrated masters route).
Graduated University of Manchester (upper second-class honours)
Completed a four-year degree in Aerospace Engineering, graduating with an upper second-class honours (reported as a 2:1 Masters by RAF Museum).
Seniority date backdated for flying officer promotion
Seniority for the flying officer promotion was backdated to 28 May 1998 (included in the 28 Nov 2000 promotion notice).
Selected for fast-jet training then re-streamed to helicopters
After Tutor training, initially streamed to basic fast-jet training on the Tucano at RAF Linton-on-Ouse; after ~100 hours she was re-streamed to helicopter training (decision point in early RAF flying training).
Started Officer Training at RAF Cranwell
Began initial officer training at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell (started May 2000).
Appointed to a permanent commission as Pilot Officer
Officially appointed to a permanent commission in the RAF as a pilot officer (London Gazette No. 55935).
Joined Yorkshire University Air Squadron
After finishing officer training (November 2000) joined Yorkshire UAS and flew the Tutor at RAF Church Fenton.
Promoted to Flying Officer (seniority noted)
Promoted to flying officer on 28 November 2000; promotion recorded with seniority backdated to 28 May 1998 (London Gazette No. 56084).
Helicopter training at RAF Shawbury
Completed basic and advanced helicopter training at RAF Shawbury (Shropshire) as part of rotorcraft aircrew training.
Promoted to Flight Lieutenant
Promoted to the rank of flight lieutenant on 28 November 2001 (London Gazette No. 56446).
Joined 28 Squadron (Merlin) at RAF Benson
Posted to 28 Squadron, part of the Merlin Force, based at RAF Benson — selected for the Merlin fleet (28 (AC) Squadron).
Declared Limited Combat Ready
After approximately five years of training, became Limited Combat Ready as a Merlin pilot in May 2005.
Completed multiple tours in Iraq
Completed several operational tours in Iraq (sources state three tours; RAF Museum notes first in Jan 2006 and subsequent deployments).
First operational detachment: Op TELIC (Iraq)
First operational deployment to Iraq on Operation TELIC (January 2006).
Transferred to 78 Squadron on reformation
When 78 Squadron was reformed at RAF Benson she transferred from 28 Squadron to 78 Squadron (both Merlin units).
Night-time combat rescue into Basra (Incident Reaction Team Captain)
As captain of an Incident Reaction Team Merlin, flew into Basra at night under heavy fire to evacuate a seriously wounded soldier, Rifleman Stephen Vause (20). The casualty had been given 15 minutes to live; the crew landed amid small-arms and rocket fire and extracted him to hospital 15 minutes after the callout. Four RPGs were fired at the aircraft during the extraction.
First woman to receive the DFC and first female officer awarded a British combat gallantry medal
Her DFC made her the first woman to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the first female officer to receive any British combat gallantry medal.
Distinguished Flying Cross gazetted
Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for the Basra rescue was officially published (gazetted) on 7 March 2008 (London Gazette No. 58633).
Expressed intent to train as an instructor before Afghan deployment
Reportedly hoped to train as a helicopter instructor before deploying to Afghanistan on Operation HERRICK (stated in RAF Museum biographical material).
Trained with RAF in preparation for Afghanistan
In December 2009 she trained with the RAF in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan (reported by CNN).
London Gazette retirement notice published
Retirement/formal notice recorded in the London Gazette (Supplement No. 60197, 3 July 2012).
Retired from the Royal Air Force
Retired from active service in the RAF on 11 May 2012 (service years reported as 2000–2012; formal notice appears in London Gazette No. 60197).
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