PRINCE Harry is set to be declared a ‘living legend of aviation’ even though he was only “number two” in his helicopter in Afghanistan.
Harry will be inducted next Friday at an awards ceremony hosted by actor and aviation ambassador John Travolta in Beverly Hills, California.
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Prince Harry in Afghanistan in 2013. Credit: Getty
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Harry should be declared a ‘Legend of Aviation’Credit: Alamy
The event was organized by the non-profit Kiddie Hawk Air Academy to honor those who make significant contributions to aviation and space.
The Duke, 39, completed two tours in Afghanistan as a forward air traffic controller and Apache helicopter pilot, after flying countless training missions in the UK, US and Australia.
He served 10 years in the army, rising to the rank of captain.
Harry will take his place alongside other “Legends of Aviation” including moon landing astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong.
A new “Legend” is inducted into the Hall of Fame whenever the current one dies.
But the award has sparked outrage among aviation fans and military experts – who believe Harry does not deserve it.
Retired Army officer Colonel Richard Kemp says the prize is just “celebrities massaging each other’s egos”.
He told The Sun: “He was an Apache helicopter gunner in Afghanistan, but so were many, many other people.
“I can think of many people who have done quite amazing things while serving in the British and American armed forces, who would be much more deserving of an award like this.
“It’s obviously because of who he is – not because of what he’s done. The crew of the Apache consists of two people – a pilot and a gunner. Harry was a gunner. He was number two on the plane.
“There have been incredible aeronautical exports of helicopter pilots in Afghanistan, Iraq and other war zones.
“There are some remarkable stories – many published by The Sun – involving tremendous flying skill and bravery.
“As far as I know, Harry – while I commend him for going out there and doing it – has not achieved feats like these.”
Other aviation icons to be inducted alongside Harry this year include US Navy pilot Fred George and former world speed record holder Steve Hinton.
Colonel Kemp added: “He didn’t do anything out of the ordinary that every other helicopter gunner didn’t do.
“Obviously she’s just motivated by his celebrity. That’s what these awards are – they’re not recognition of true greatness. They’re more about publicity.
“To compare Neil Armstrong and Harry is just hilarious – they really couldn’t be further apart.”
The event’s website also praised the Duke for his work with charities and organizations including Travalyst, Sentebale, African Parks, WellChild and the Invictus Games.
A statement on the event’s website said: “British Army veteran and pilot with 10 years of military service, flying training missions in the US, UK and Australia, as well as combat missions in Afghanistan saving the lives of allied forces and countless civilians, and creator of Invictus Games for wounded soldiers and veterans around the world.”
After training at Sandhurst, Harry was commissioned as an officer in the Household Cavalry Blues and Royals in April 2006.
He served in Afghanistan as a forward air controller from 2007 to 2008 and as an Apache pilot from 2012 to 2013, and was occasionally stationed at Camp Bastion.
He witnessed the horrific injuries suffered by fellow soldiers and later organized the Invictus Games for wounded personnel.
During his time in combat, he qualified as an Apache pilot and was promoted to captain in 2011.
Harry sparked outrage after boasting that he had killed 25 Taliban fighters while serving as a helicopter pilot in Afghanistan.
PAST WINNERS
- Buzz Aldrin – flew 66 US Air Force missions in Korea before walking on the moon in 1969.
- Jeff Bezos – flew into space on his Blue Origin NS-16 spacecraft
- Tom Cruise – starred in the cult film about the fighter pilot Top Gun
- Harrison Ford – amateur pilot who owns several small planes
- Morgan Freeman – has flown to over 20 countries in his Swearingen SJ30 long-range aircraft
- Elon Musk – launched the Space X rocket program
- Saudi Prince Sultan bin Salman Al Saud – the first Arab, Muslim and member of the royal family to fly into space
His brother, William, Prince of Wales, trained with the RAF as a search and rescue pilot in 2009, before becoming an air ambulance pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance for two years from March 2015.
Harry was stripped of honorary military titles including Royal Marines, RAF Honington, Royal Navy Small Ships and Diving when he left the Royal Family in 2020.
Harry was dealt a humiliating blow last week after he was left out of Sandhurst’s guide to the most outstanding graduates.
The Duke of Sussex failed to make the military academy’s final book of 200 men to serve there – despite William writing the foreword.
Last year, King Charles watched military cadets complete their training at Sandhurst and spoke of how much military school means to Harry.
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The sun often covers the pilots of combat heroes
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John Travolta will present the awardCredit: Getty
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He will join an exclusive group – which includes Buzz Aldrin (pictured above) Credit: Alamy
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