BY DAY they have regular nine-to-five jobs but in their spare time they risk their lives thousands of miles from home for the RAF.

Twenty-eight RAF reservists, members of 4624 Squadron based at RAF Brize Norton, were honoured at the weekend for their work in Air Movements, helping to load and unload aircraft around the world.

On Saturday, 28 airmen received medals for operational duties in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as honours for long service, presented by Honorary Inspector General Royal Auxiliary Air Force Air Vice Marshall Lord Beaverbrook.

Senior Aircraftman Stephen Green, 48, from Yarnton, was celebrating clocking up 27 years service after being inspired to join as an air cadet.

By day he is a laboratory production assistant in Witney, and he has served in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

He said: “Afghanistan was easier than Iraq. It was dangerous and there was more chance of being killed. We had 125 attacks in six weeks, and in that time there were 216 rockets that fell on the airfield. It was frightening.

“We were loading everything, from bombs to bullets, bodies to bog rolls.”

SAC Green said too often he would be loading coffins on to the planes.

He said: “There was the coffin and then there were two boxes, one for personal effects and the other was their uniform. It brought home what we were doing.”

Senior Aircraftman Dave Shellard, 55, of Raleigh Crescent, Witney, hung up his uniform last year after 23 years, but came back to receive a long service medal.

SAC Shellard, a stonemason during the week, said: “You really feel you are part of the RAF and you are contributing.

He said: “The pressure can be immense working with the aircraft because you can’t keep it waiting.”

His partner Debbie Scrimshaw, 51, said: “It’s wonderful that he’s been given these life experiences. He had never felt so proud as when he got the award.”

Sergeant Roger Bellamy, 52, of Alvescot, near Carterton, picked up a medal for 10 years’ service.

The father-of-two said: “It’s a great learning experience and I’ve got a good bunch of mates here. It’s a fantastic way to develop yourself as a person.”

Senior Aircraftman Roland Mills, of Towersey, near Thame, was honoured for 26 years’ service.

The HGV driver, 50, returned from a four-month tour of Afghanistan earlier this year. He witnessed dozens of Taliban rockets landing on Kandahar airfield.

He said: “We have our armour and we just lie flat on the ground and wait for the all clear. I had one land pretty close. It lifts you off the ground.

“Seeing some of the injured lads is one of the worst bits, it doesn’t matter what nationality they are, that brings it home.”

Also honoured was Flight Lieutenant Pete Dorward, 53, of Orchard Way, Witney. The driving instructor and Witney town councillor collected a medal for 10 year’s service.

Antony Deakin, 50, from Cumnor, near Abingdon, has served 12 years and was honoured too. He said: “The Reserves is like one big family.”