Captain Binns was the crew commander of a Sea King Helicopter whose task was to attempt to evacuate a critically wounded Somali and a surgical team to HMCS Preserver on 22 February 1993. An ongoing battle was raging in the city, and the site proposed for the evacuation, while safe from enemy fire, was surrounded by obstacles hidden in the darkness. Because of the danger Belgian and American forces refused to undertake the mission, but Captain Binns elected to attempt the evacuation. Assisted by his co-pilot, he managed to land his aircraft and conducted a flawless departure, despite the darkness, to deliver the patient and surgical team safely to the ship.