Three men from RAF Lyneham who risked their lives to rescue others have been honoured by the Queen for their bravery.

Flight Lieutenant Simon Cree and Flight Sergeant Piers Wakeham have been awarded the Queen's Commendations for bravery in the air after they rescued crew members trapped in a burning aircraft.

The men, from number 47 Squadron, were on board a Hercules which crashed during take off in Albania during the 1997 Kosovo campaign.

Lyneham spokesman Squadron Leader Christopher Bartle said: "The aircraft crashed in flames at night with its cargo of ammunition and vehicles exploding."

He told how Flt Lt Cree freed the plane's captain from the wreckage that had trapped him in his seat, climbed out of a window and dragged him and two other crew members out of the burning aeroplane.

Meanwhile Flt Sgt Wakeham, who had been hit on the head by a vehicle which smashed his flying helmet, returned to help the remaining five passengers and cut free the captain, whose clothing had snagged on the wreckage as he was pulled out.

Sqd Ldr Bartle said: "Piers and Simon freed the remaining passengers whilst being surrounded by burning fuel and exploding ammunition and gave first aid until emergency services arrived.

"The citations state that both aircrew showed gallantry and bravery and a complete disregard for their own safety in returning to a burning aircraft in order to help others."

In 1998 Corporal Darren Smith, an 28-year-old engineer, put his life at risk three times during a holiday to Crete, when he tried to save other swimmers.

On the first occasion Cpl Smith was on an organised boat trip when he dived into the sea to rescue a weak swimmer who had disappeared beneath the surface of the water.

Three days later, he swam out to two distressed swimmers who were caught in a heavy riptide and unable to reach the shore.

He held them above the surface while walking on the seabed and coming up for occassional breaths and in this way he carried them 30 feet to the shore, saving their lives.

Two days after the second incident, Cpl Smith swam out to locate a missing swimmer and administered emergency resuscitation after 25 minutes treading water.

He then spent 20 minutes towing him to the shore, only stopping to try to restore the man's breathing, but despite these efforts the swimmer died.

Sqdn Ldr Bartle said: "He was awarded the Queen's Commendation for showing exceptional courage and complete disregard for his personal safety on three separate occasions."

But Cpl Smith, of Purton, said he would feel a happier about the award if he had been able to save the man who died. "To be honest I didn't think about it being scary or brave at the time," he said.

"I just did it because of who I am and not for the recognition."