AN RAF pilot has insisted he was not scared during a daring mission behind enemy lines in Afghanistan which has earned him a Mention in Despatches.

Flight Lieutenant Adrian Parkinson, 31, from Headington, led a formation of Chinook helicopters through rocket fire to land 450 soldiers deep inside enemy territory in Helmand province in May last year.

The former pupil of Oxford’s Magdalen College School, whose parents Colin and Carol still live in the city, said rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) flew through the air just yards from his helicopter in the Sangin Valley.

Ft Lt Parkinson led a formation of four British and two Canadian Chinooks on the mission, making three flights into the area to land soldiers in the thick of the action.

He said: “We wanted to go in and try to flush out these guys and disrupt their operation. I wouldn’t say it was scary, but there was a little bit of anxiety before we took off.”

As the Chinooks flew nearpositions held by Taliban rebels, they came under fire from RPGs, heavy machine guns and small arms.

Ft Lt Parkinson said: “We kicked on. Our formation was still together, and none of our aircraft had got hit, thanks to skillful piloting.

“We moved in such a way to make it a more difficult target for the enemy.

“We had a very, very good crew. We kept going and focused on our landing.”

During the second run into the valley, the helicopters came under even heavier fire.

Flt Lt Parkinson said: “We started to see RPGs flying over the aircraft.

“I can only describe it as looking like a flaming American football travelling at high speed, passing between us and the number two aircraft.

“At one point we saw an RPG explode just 50 to 100 yards in front of us.

“I surprised myself, but I was fairly calm. The most important thing was the safety of the troops, who were getting off and going straight into a firefight.”

Ft Lt Parkinson learned this week he was to be Mentioned in Despatches – the Armed Forces’ oldest form of recognition for gallantry.

He said: “When you see some of the names getting medals, it feels humbling to be alongside them. I’m proud for the team and rest of the crew as well.

“I think it has been a bit of a worry for my parents to find out we were doing things like that out there.”

Ft Lt Parkinson is now training at RAF Brize Norton to fly Tristar transport planes, which ferry troops between the west Oxfordshire base and Afghanistan.

Fiancée Lauren Rowsell, 30, who will marry Flt Lt Parkinson in a 1940s RAF-themed wedding in October, said: “When he was out there, I tried not to think about it.

“It’s not as quite risky as the soldiers on the front line, but you just hope he comes back in one piece and you don’t get a phone call.

“I’m obviously very proud of Adie.

“But it’s not just him doing it – there are eight guys in the crew. Without them, this doesn’t happen.”