'British Bob' on Royal Navy pilot exchange in the US receives medal for $99m drug bust

A Royal Navy pilot serving with the US Coast Guard has been recognised at the White House for helping stop a drug-smuggling vessel carrying 3.6 tonnes of cocaine worth $99m (£73m).

Lieutenant Commander David Fleming – better known by his nickname 'British Bob' – is the first Royal Navy pilot to be embedded with the Coast Guard's Helicopter Interdiction Squadron, known as Hitron.

The unit flies armed MH-65 Dolphin helicopters from US cutters to track and disable high-speed boats transporting narcotics.

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Lt Cdr Fleming, who has spent the past three years on exchange in the United States, was part of the team aboard USCGC Munro when the bust took place.

He described the mission as one of the most demanding of his career, with two smuggling boats intercepted almost simultaneously.

"So we were really having to push the aircraft to the limits. And, in fact, we ended up flying backwards at one point to take some shots into the engines, because that's the only way we could actually get a good position of the aircraft closer to the vessel where we could actually disable their engines," Lt Cdr Fleming said.  

The White House ceremony, led by special advisor Sara Carter and US interdiction coordinator Shannon Kelly, presented awards to a number of agencies, including cybercrime and police, involved in major counter-narcotics operations.

Lt Cdr Fleming emphasised the importance of the wider exchange programme.

"Whatever happens in the political world, we know who is operating on the other side of the Atlantic.

"We know how to make phone calls to the right people, and we can make things happen at the lower level, where we have to coordinate things quickly, and share knowledge and training," he said.

Since arriving in the US in 2022, he has deployed six times and taken part in 18 at-sea interdictions, stopping more than $1bn worth of cocaine and marijuana from reaching the mainland.

Earlier this year, he qualified as an instructor pilot with Hitron. Lt Cdr Fleming is due to complete his four-year tour next spring.

As for souvenirs from the White House visit, he admitted to coming away with a couple of napkins stamped with the presidential seal.

"I'm keeping those for special occasions," he joked.