The Award of the prestigious Firmin Sword of Peace
The prestigious Firmin Sword of Peace, awarded by Britain’s longest-standing sword making company to the military unit or establishment judged to have made the most valuable contribution to humanitarian activities at home or overseas was presented to Royal Air Force Brize Norton by Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth.
Air Chief Marshal Smyth said:
"This award celebrates not only the professionalism and ingenuity of our people, but also the power of joint effort across the A400 Force, 47 Air Dispatch Squadron, the Joint Air Delivery Transport Evaluation Unit, 206 Squadron, DE&S, RTSA and 83 Expeditionary Air Group; all under the command of 11Gp. Together, they delivered hope where it was needed most, setting a benchmark for operational excellence and teamwork."
Air Chief Marshal Smyth
Chief of Air Staff
Awarded for Operation Underhill, which delivered essential aid to civilians in Gaza facing acute food shortages, it represents a significant UK military contribution to a major humanitarian crisis, showing the RAF’s ability to conduct complex air drop operations under challenging conditions.
Group Captain Hannah Bishop said:
“I was the deployed Air Component Commander in the Middle East responsible for the command of this operation. I’m really proud to be part of today and to see the Firmin Sword presented. It was a real Whole Force effort, and that’s been reflected today. The entire breadth of people involved from here at RAF Brize Norton through to those forward deployed have been recognised in this award. The operation was about genuinely helping people and it was humbling to be part of.”
Group Captain Hannah Bishop
Operation Underhill was the RAF’s essential contribution to a global humanitarian effort to prevent famine in Gaza through air drop delivery of aid with the Atlas (A400M) aircraft, 83 Expeditionary Air Group (83EAG), 206 Squadron, the Joint Air Delivery Transport Evaluation Unit (JADTEU) and 47 Air Despatch (AD) Squadron Royal Logistic Corps, all at the forefront of activity.
Warrant Officer 2 Dibbs, 47 Air Despatch Squadron, Royal Logistic Corps, said:
“I was one of the first people deployed as part of the initial planning team to engage with the other nations involved in the operation. We had such a strong team from the UK Armed Forces as part of this operation across both the RAF and Army working at an incredibly high level, and seeing everyone here again today to receive this award together is a special moment. It was a privilege to be involved in a mission like this”
Warrant Officer 2 Dibbs
47 Air Despatch Squadron
Royal Logistic Corps
This also marked the first time the RAF used the Atlas for humanitarian air drops in such a high-pressure situation, highlighting complex logistics and international cooperation.
Squadron Leader Lucy Playle said:
“I was the Detachment Commander for Op Underhill, and today we got a chance to reflect on such an incredible achievement. Today we are reminded of the joint nature of the operation, and how everyone worked so well together. Everyone wanted to deliver the aid as quickly as possible and its warming to see all those enablers come together to be recognised as a team and Whole Force.”
Squadron Leader Lucy Playle
Receiving the award on behalf of everyone involved, Squadron Leader Chris Bowen, LXX Squadron said:
“It is an absolute honour to receive the Firmin Sword of Peace. To be recognised is without a doubt, the perfect way to end an operation as complex as it was.”
Squadron Leader Chris Bowen
LXX Squadron
