Squadron Leader George McInnes, DSD, for services to the New Zealand Defence Force
Squadron Leader George McInnes was the aircraft captain of a Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90 helicopter that was dispatched on 30 May 2021 to assist the New Zealand Police Search and Rescue during a state of emergency due to widespread flooding of the Canterbury plains. Squadron Leader McInnes responded to a request to rescue multiple people that were trapped and endangered by rapidly rising floodwaters. The conditions were extremely difficult for helicopter operations with heavy rain, strong and gusty winds and low cloud. The local civilian rescue helicopter had decided not to attempt the rescues due to conditions exceeding their operating limits and a swift water rescue crew had been unsuccessful in trying to reach a motorist, who had leapt into the flowing waters only to be trapped by a tree. Squadron Leader McInnes manoeuvred his helicopter to attempt a rescue. Battling against the extreme conditions, he lowered his winch crewperson among the debris and branches to successfully rescue the trapped motorist and carried him and the winch crewperson underslung to the water’s edge, to meet waiting emergency services. Squadron Leader McInnes then returned to rescue another two motorists trapped in their vehicle in similar challenging conditions. He demonstrated expert flying skills by successfully extracting the motorists before they were swept away.