RAF reservists who defied rocket and mortar fire to equip British troops have been honoured.

Members of 4624 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAAF), based at RAF Brize Norton, were handed medals on Saturday for their service in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The squadron has flown to Iraq and Afghanistan hundreds of times – often coming under heavy fire as it supported regular forces by delivering weapons, supplies and humanitarian aid.

The reservists have also helped transport the coffins of fallen servicemen.

Senior Aircraftman Stephen Green, 48, of Yarnton, is a laboratory production administrator by day, but since 1982 has also been a reservist with the squadron.

SAC Green was presented with the Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan by Air Vice-Marshall Lord Beaverbrook at RAF Brize Norton.

He said: “I’ve been fired at in Afghanistan and Iraq but I wouldn’t give it up. The camaraderie is terrific.

“I’m proud of this medal and of course I enjoy it. I’ve been doing it for 27 years and I’m not bored of it yet.”

SAC Green said he served on six flights from Basra in Iraq which saw 219 rockets fired in 115 separate attacks.

Corporal Marie Pawley, 46, of Milton-under-Wychwood, joined up 14 years ago after seeing an advert in the Mail’s sister paper the Oxford Times.

She gave up a managerial position at a psychiatric hospital to become a full-time reservist in 2005.

Cpl Pawley won the Volunteer Reserve Service Medal.

She said: “I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve flown. But operations in Iraq and Afghanistan couldn’t be successful without us, and even the regulars would agree with that.

“It can be a bit hairy. I remember a mortar landing 15 metres from our hut and the walls shaking.

“I was under a table wearing body armour. I thought I was a goner.”

Lord Beaverbrook paid tribute to the reservists and their families and employers for their sacrifices.

He said: “The contribution you have all made to the UK has been quite outstanding.”