Former Oakham School and Vale of Catmose College student Mike Mason has been hailed a hero after one particular mission when he flew his Harrier 150 miles to help forces under fire from the Taliban.

Mike's Number 1 (Fighter) Squadron completed the record 1,450 successful missions during the nine-and-a-half month deployment in Kandahar.

Mike, 28 was one of two Harrier pilots who took just 15 minutes to fly the 150 miles to help troops in danger of their lives sheltering behind a wall.

Heavy machine fire had reduced the thickness of the wall from two feet to three inches.

Flying the Harrier GR9 at 450mph, the two pilots swooped low in their jump jets to drive the Taliban out but they kept on firing.

The two dropped CRV7 rockets and took out all enemy gunmen. The British troops were rescued unharmed.

Mike is a reluctant hero who has taken part in about 60 sorties in Afghanistan. He said: "It is all about putting training into practice. We knew the guys on the ground were in trouble and they got out, which is the main thing."

He was quick to praise the other members of the squadron saying: "It is a team effort from engineers to pilots. We have flown that many missions without losing a single mission due to the aircraft being unflyable. The squadron is quite a fantastic bunch of people from engineers up to the boss."

The high flyer, who is the son of Gulf War pilot Pablo Mason, has wanted to be a pilot since he was a toddler.

He grew up in Oakham, where he lived in Welland Way, and after gaining 11 GCSEs won a scholarship to Oakham School. He was still at school when the RAF spotted his potential and he was offered a scholarship before leaving for Leeds University.

Mike gained his wings in 2003 and after Harrier training at RAF Wittering, joined Number 1 (Fighter) Squadron in April 2006.

His proud mum Sheila Willars, 57, of Long Clawson near Melton Mowbray, knew nothing of the mission until this week. She said: "I'm so proud of him, it makes your heart burst."

A team of 90 engineers worked 14 hours a day to keep the Harriers flying during their deployment. The pilots adopted the Jedi call signs because their nightvision goggles make them look like Star Wars characters.