Britain has made a helicopter pilot from Nova Scotia the first Canadian since the Korean war to be honoured with the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Flight Lieut. Christopher Hasler is the first Canadian to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross since the Korean war.
(CBC)

Flight Lieut. Christopher Hasler, who grew up in Bedford, and his Royal Air Force helicopter crew twice risked their lives during combat operations in Afghanistan.

In July, Hasler's Chinook helicopter came under intense fire from machineguns and rocket-propelled grenades during a mission to resupply British troops and pick up wounded in a Taliban stronghold in volatile Helmand province.

During another operation, Hasler landed his helicopter in a space among three buildings to get closer to the troops — again under heavy fire.

The slightest error would have been disastrous, but Hasler said there is at least one thing that scares him more than combat in Afghanistan.

The Distinguished Flying Cross honours bravery in combat.
(CBC)

"I don't know how I am going to feel when I meet the Queen" in May during the medal ceremony.

His mother, Mary Margaret, is happy her son will be able to spend Christmas with the family in Ottawa. And while she is extremely proud of her son, she worries about him every day.

"First thing when I wake up in the morning I think about what he's doing [in Afghanistan] and is he OK," she said. "It's just with you all the time."

Hasler will return to duty in Afghanistan in February.

Family history

Hasler's family has a long history of flying with the RAF. His great-grandfather was with the RAF and his grandparents met while serving in the RAF during the Second World War.

The cross has been handed out to Canadians 4,460 times, mostly during the Second World War.

It is awarded for acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty performed while flying in active operations against the enemy. It was established on June 3, 1918, the birthday of King George V.