David Hayden (RAF airman)

David James Hayden, MC is the first Royal Air Force non-commissioned officer to win the Military Cross.

Early life

Hayden was born in Germany and attended the Gleed Boys' School in Spalding, where he grew up. His father was a tank driver in the Queen's Royal Hussars, becoming a warrant officer class 2.

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. He is a qualified instructor.
While serving in Iraq in 2007, as part of No. 4 RAF Force Protection Wing, 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. His Military Cross was gazetted on 7 March 2008.