Serving airman's mother says 'never forget' after son's commendation for bravery
A MUIR employee whose son received a recent commendation for outstanding bravery while serving with the RAF has shared her experiences of life knowing he works in theatres of war.
Proud mother Diane Jones, a Maintenance Officer at Muir Group Housing Association, has told how her son, Flight Lieutenant Michael Jones, has flown on multiple operations in conflicts overseas as a Weapons Systems Operator navigating in Tornado fighter aircraft. 
He has twice been commended for bravery, most recently for actions undertaken during a mission in November 2015, supporting Peshmerga forces engaged in heavy fighting with Daesh militants inside Iraq.
But despite taking pride in her son’s military achievements she admitted she does live in fear of the dangers he faces and urges people never to forget the sacrifices made in pursuit of peace, having learnt first-hand about the suffering endured by so many.
“I worry about him every day as I do with my other two sons,” said Diane.
“I know he has been highly trained by the RAF and you try not to think about it too much because it does frighten you.
“What brought it home to me was when he had to eject during a training exercise.
“He hurt his spine and spent time at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.
“While there he spent time on a ward with army soldiers who had suffered awful injuries, including losing limbs, some, more than one.
“That doesn’t really make the news but that is the reality.
“The amount of young men who suffer is horrendous.
“People shouldn’t ever forget the sacrifices made, both past and present.”
Flt Lt Jones, has twice been commended for bravery, firstly while on operations in Libya in 2012 with a Joint Commanders Commendation which expressed how he had he had shown “tactical awareness well above that expected of his (then) limited experience”.
More recently, the 29-year-old, (pictured below, right) who has also served in Afghanistan as well as on other missions in the Middle East, receive a Grand Master’s Commendation, the full details for which can be found below as published by the RAF.
“I am a very proud mum,” said Diane.
“He is doing something he has always wanted to do ever since he was a toddler.
“I am pleased he has been able to achieve his dream and he hopes to take that one step further by becoming a fully qualified fighter pilot over the next few years.”
The Grand Master’s Commendation
FLIGHT LIEUTENANT Michael Jones RAF
On 16 Nov 2015, Flt Lt Jones was the lead WSO of a pair of Tornados tasked on an ‘Op Shader’ Close Air Support mission. Conditions were so hazardous that they were assessed to be on the very limit of safe flight and the authorising officer considered cancelling the mission, but due to the elevated level of enemy activity, Flt Lt Jones courageously elected to launch and provide support to Peshmerga forces engaged in very heavy fighting.
After encountering severe turbulence and icing during the transit to theatre, Jones successfully used his Ground Mapping Radar, data-link and radios to build his situational awareness and safely guide his formation to join with a tanker aircraft in thick cloud and almost zero lux. On arrival at his task, he found a dynamic, complex and challenging ground scheme of manoeuvre: Kurdish positions were under an aggressive and sustained Daesh attack. Flt Lt Jones was briefed to strike enemy forces that were pouring accurate and sustained fire on friendly positions. Still battling against the weather conditions, he pinpointed enemy locations and employed his weapons with absolute precision, destroying mortar and heavy machine gun positions. Due to the extremely fast and professional way that he operated the Tornados, he struck the enemy and prevented friendly force casualties. Now extremely short of fuel, he calmly guided his formation through and around several mountainous thunderstorms and, under significant pressure, he again successfully joined a tanker. The extent of the danger became apparent as, during refuelling, severe electrical arcing occurred between the Tornado and the refuelling hose.
Once the mission in Iraq was complete, Flt Lt Jones had to safely return to Akrotiri. By this point he had been airborne for seven hours and, along with the rest of his formation, was suffering from significant fatigue. Aware that his aircraft would be needed for missions the next morning, he pressed home through intense levels of turbulence, icing and lightning. A less skilful and determined aviator could easily have diverted. Unable to route around or over the storms he utilised every ounce of his skill as a fast-jet aviator and all of his aircraft’s sensors to avoid the most dangerous weather and to lead his formation home.
This was an exceptionally difficult and dangerous sortie for Flt Lt Jones; Daesh is a ferocious enemy but on this mission the weather was equally dangerous. His operation of the GR4 was in the finest traditions of the Service and demonstrated an exceptional level of knowledge and mastery of the aircraft and its systems. Faced with significant risk to himself and his formation, Jones displayed outstanding bravery by continuing with the mission where many would have turned back. Despite having to operate at night, in the most severe and hazardous of weather conditions he ensured that friendly forces had vital air cover and that RAF Tornados once again defeated the enemy.
In recognition of outstanding service in the air during a night mission in exceptionally poor and dangerous weather conditions, Flt Lt Jones is awarded that Grand Master’s Commendation.
