A woman pilot based at RAF Benson who dodged low flying missiles to rescue a dying soldier in Iraq will tomorrow be awarded the forces' highest honour.

Flight Lieutenant Michelle Goodman - who flies Merlin helicopters stationed at the South Oxfordshire base - will become the first woman to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross at a gala reception in London.

Flt Lt Goodman became an RAF hero after she flew her crew into the full force of a fire fight to rescue a soldier who had been shot and lay dying in a Basra street.

Rifleman Stephen Vause, 20, was just minutes from death after he was hit in an insurgent mortar attack, with an airlift to a field hospital his only chance of survival.

In an interview with The SundayTelegraph Brigadier James Bashall, who had only taken over as commander of British troops in Basra on the same day in June, 2007, said: "The decision was left to the helicopter pilot, Flt Lt Michelle Goodman, and her crew.

"It was dangerous. There was a risk the helicopter could be shot down."

The RAF Merlin flew low and fast out of Basra airport - the main British base on the outskirts of the city - and headed for an isolated compound in the heart of an insurgent stronghold.

While the small helicopter darted across roof tops to evade surface-to-air missiles, Flt Lt Goodman would have been acutely aware that just a year earlier two RAF Benson colleagues were killed when their Lynx chopper was downded in similar circumstances.

In that incident, Flt Lt Sarah-Jayne Mulvihill, 32, and Wing Commander John Coxen, 46, were among five killed in Basra.

Flt Lt Mulvihill was the first British servicewoman to die in Iraq, while Wing Cdr Coxen was the most senior British officer to be killed.

But thanks to the bravery of Flt Lt Goodman, Rifleman Vause survived his wounds.

Brig Bashall said: "It was an awesome bit of flying and it was important that Stephen was rescued. The soldiers needed to know that if they were badly injured we would come and get them out - no matter what."

Tomorrow's ceremony at the prestigious Royal Air Force Club in Piccadilly will see five Conspicuous Gallantry Crosses, five Distinguished Service Orders, 28 Military Crosses and three Distinguished Service Orders presented.