pbr RAF pilot Flight Lieutenant Ian Fortune, 28, has spoken of his pride after being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for rescuing wounded troops in his Chinook helicopter even after being shot in the head by the Taliban.br ppbr He had just taken off from Garmsir in Helmand on January 29 with the six injured men on board when a bullet came through the aircraft's windscreen.br ppbr It shattered the visor of his helmet but fortunately was deflected by the metal rail for his night vision goggles, although he still suffered lacerations to his cheek which bled heavily.br ppbr The insurgents hit the Chinook eight times, leaving it badly damaged.br ppbr The helicopter's stabilisation system was disabled, making it much more difficult to control, but Flt Lt Fortune refused to hand over the controls to his co-pilot, who had other problems to deal with.br ppbr The pilot, from Kingston, Surrey, recalled: "I said 'Chaps, I think I've been shot but I'm OK'.br ppbr Flt Lt Fortune said the medal was a "great personal honour", adding: "I'm filled with an enormous sense of pride and truly humbled to be joining those who have gone before me.