Jump to content

DFC


HuggyU2

Recommended Posts

I saw this elsewhere. Is this legit?

For service as set forth in the following:

CITATION:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major X, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a KC-135R Instructor Pilot, 913th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, 384th Expeditionary Operations Group, 384th Air Expeditionary Wing, deployed to a classified location in the United States Central Command's area of responsibility on 13 January 2003 in direct support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. On that date, while flying over enemy territory, his KC-135R aircraft suffered a total loss of a transponder, as well as all control and navigation display systems. Unable to restore the affected systems, Major X demonstrated superb leadership and crew resource management skills by directing the copilot and boom operator to use dead reckoning navigation to arrange a rendezvous with another KC-135R in the area of operations. Major X then coordinated with the responding crew to escort his crippled tanker to a deployed forward operating runway. His outstanding efforts ensured the safe recovery of his aircraft and crew and the completion of a successful and critical combat mission. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major X reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Edited by Huggyu2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, when our collective skills have atrophied to the point that they are now, it is actually amazing that they pulled off the above event (harrowing as I'm sure it was) without swapping paint, crashing into terrain, or creating an international incident.

Not an event I'd consider "DFC-worthy", but hey, I wasn't there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

He wasn't quite so lucky, or careful, in all his endeavors:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3249472.stm

All three sprang from a romance between Mr Lindbergh and Munich hat maker Brigitte Hesshaimer that began in 1957.

With a wife and children in the US, the pilot led a double life for decades.

Technique only.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, when our collective skills have atrophied to the point that they are now, it is actually amazing that they pulled off the above event (harrowing as I'm sure it was) without swapping paint, crashing into terrain, or creating an international incident.

Not an event I'd consider "DFC-worthy", but hey, I wasn't there.

You're right, DFC worthy would be the Ramstein -130 Nav who diverted her crew around a storm system know as "Italy."

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We actually had a Nav call American Samoa a severe thunderstorm and said we should go around it. Crew asked how much gas they have and said that may not be possible, so they decided to land in that "Severe thundersorm" also known as their destination!

Edited by amcflyboy
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Back to the DFC, I'm surprised a commander was able to look himself/herself in the mirror when writing this,... especially the "crippled tanker" part. A crippled tanker. Really. Well,... "crippled" with 4 good engines and flight controls, anyways.

This seems more like what I would expect:

The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Merrel F. Adams, Jr. for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group Twelve, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 5 February 1967, Captain Adams launched as Flight Leader of a section of two A-4E aircraft in support of an emergency retraction mission of a twenty-four man, Marine reconnaissance team which was surrounded and temporarily pinned down by a numerically superior enemy force in heavily wooded, mountainous terrain in the vicinity of Chu Lai. A previous helicopter extraction attempt had been aborted due to intense hostile fire from an estimated 130 Viet Cong positioned within 200 meters of the landing zone. Arriving over the besieged area, Captain Adams expertly assessed the situation, selected his approach pattern and pinpointed the enemy positions. Skillfully and without regard for his own safety, he placed his first two bombs directly on the enemy emplacements within 100 meters of the Marines’ position. Commencing his second run, Captain Adams placed two bombs only fifty meters from friendly positions. Continuing his low level attacks with unerring accuracy, Captain Adams silenced one enemy gun position and reduced the volume of enemy fire delivered from the tree line surrounding the landing zone. After expending his ordnance, Captain Adams fearlessly made repeated dummy runs over the Viet Cong positions until the helicopters had safely retracted the entire reconnaissance team. His unwavering determination and complete disregard for his own safety contributed significantly to the accomplishment of an extremely hazardous mission and accounted for an estimated twenty-five enemy killed. Captain Adams’ exceptional aeronautical skill, resolute courage and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of extreme danger were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I put an aero club 172 in a field once when the engine gave up the ghost. Didn't put a scratch on it. I must have been on some type of order that day since I was still wearing my bag. Maybe I should submit for one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As he looked down from his A-10C Thunderbolt II attack aircraft 2,000 feet above an American convoy motoring through a town in south central Afghanistan, Lt. Col. David Dressel saw all hell breaking loose...

The controller called for a “gun run,” but Dressel descended and determined the convoy was too close to the enemy for him to fire his jet’s 30mm cannon. The friendly troops were 30 meters from the enemy, well inside the 65-meter “danger close” range, meaning the convoy’s proximity to the enemy possibly could result in 10 percent friendly casualties.

“I wanted to get as close as I possibly could to minimize how big a spread the cannon would have, so that meant I had to take a fairly close shot,” Dressel said.

Within 97 seconds of the first enemy fire, Dressel descended to within less than 200 feet of the ground and executed his attack, followed by his wingman...

http://enidnews.com/localnews/x797269745/Pilot-receives-DFC

Edited by check6
  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

How did a cockpit go unconscious?

It's actually pretty easy when you're flying out of Howard during Carnival. My room was on the building side vs. the street side. They party until 0500 and then start back up again at 8. No one got any sleep for two weeks except on the plane.

The co swore he had his eyes open under his sunglasses.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


×
×
  • Create New...