The Distinguished Flying Cross
"for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight"
Captain Royce Williams, 100 year old Korean War veteran,
to receive
the Medal of Honor
Military.com | By Kevin Damask
Published February 08, 2026
It was a dogfight for the ages that saved countless troops, yet Navy pilot Royce Williams kept it secret for more than 60 years. On Wednesday, it was announced that Williams will receive the Medal of Honor.
Williams, 100, a Korean War fighter pilot, survived insurmountable odds, fending off seven Soviet MiG jets in November 1952. Williams bravely shot down four of the fighters while his aircraft sustained heavy damage from gunfire. His Panther jet was pocked with 263 bullet holes. It was the longest 35 minutes of his life.
Such heroics are typically celebrated and publicized, but with Cold War tensions high in the early 1950s, Williams vowed to keep his clash with the Russians quiet. The Soviet Union was not “officially” involved in the Korean War.
Williams, of Escondido, California, did not speak of the incident until 2016, after a series of Soviet war records were declassified and made public. For over six decades, the former pilot, who also served in Vietnam, didn’t even confide in his wife or brother, a fellow Navy veteran.
When his story was revealed, however, other veterans and political leaders started campaigning to get Williams properly honored for his heroics.
In 2023, the retired Navy captain received the Navy Cross, and in 2026, he will be awarded the military’s highest achievement for valor – the Medal of Honor. Williams received the news from the Commander-in-Chief himself, President Donald Trump, earlier in the week.
Welcome
to the Distinguished Flying Cross Society
The Distinguished Flying Cross Society (DFCS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring, preserving, and teaching the legacy of heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight.
The DFC was established by Congress in 1926. Since the first award by President Calvin Coolidge on May 2, 1927 to ten aviators of the US Army Air Corps who participated in the Army Pan American Flight, DFC’s have been awarded to men and women representing all branches of the military for heroism or extraordinary achievement in aerial flight.
Notable recipients include Charles Lindbergh, Wiley Post, Amelia Earhart, Glenn Curtiss, George H.W. Bush, Admiral Alan Shepard, Captain Jim Lovell, Captain John McCain and celebrities such as General James Stewart and Major Clark Gable. DFCS members include Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine aviators who flew during the Vietnam era to more recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Coast Guard is also represented for dramatic rescue operations from Alaska to the Caribbean.
Our mission is threefold:
- Honor the courageous men and women who have earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).
- Preserve the history and stories of their remarkable aerial achievements.
- Teach future generations about their service and sacrifice.
Join us in celebrating and safeguarding the extraordinary legacy of America’s aviators.
A Message from the DFCS President
On behalf of the Distinguished Flying Cross Society, it is my honor to welcome you to our website.
For more than a century, the Distinguished Flying Cross has stood as a symbol of extraordinary achievement and courage in aerial flight. The DFCS exists to preserve the legacy of those who earned this distinguished honor, to tell their stories with accuracy and respect, and to ensure their service continues to inspire future generations.
Our mission extends beyond remembrance. Through education, historical preservation, scholarships, youth outreach, and advocacy for veterans’ well-being, we are committed to honoring service while giving back to the communities that support it. Every initiative we undertake reflects our belief that the legacy of the Distinguished Flying Cross must remain active, relevant, and enduring.
We invite you to become part of this mission. By joining the Distinguished Flying Cross Society, you help preserve history, support meaningful programs, and strengthen a community dedicated to honoring aviation excellence and service. If you are able, a donation further ensures that these efforts continue—preserving stories, expanding educational opportunities, and supporting those who have served.
Whether you are a recipient, family member, historian, supporter, or first-time visitor, we welcome your involvement and thank you for standing with us to ensure that courage, service, and sacrifice are never forgotten.
Respectfully,
John Whiddon
President
Distinguished Flying Cross Society
An Overdue Distinction for a Korean War Flying Ace
A new law allows Royce Williams, 100, to receive the medal of honor. Trump should follow up quickly.
On December 22, the Wall Street Journal published an article about retired Navy Captain Royce Willams who will soon receive the Medal of Honor:
"Buried in a recent 3,000-page defense policy bill is good news that won’t receive enough attention. The legislation would allow a living legend of naval aviation to receive the nation’s highest military honor. A Defense Department video called 100-year-old Royce Williams the “forgotten fighter ace of the Korean war.” His valor is worth remembering on its merits, and the history is instructive about the threats now facing the U.S. President Trump should move quickly to award Capt. Williams the medal of honor."
Task & Purpose published the following article that provides background about the actions leading to the final decision to award Captain Williams the Medal of Honor:
Published Dec 8, 2025 3:52 PM EST
Legendary Navy aviator Royce Williams, who shot down four Soviet MiG-15 fighters in 1952, is the inspiration for legislation that would make it easier for troops and veterans to be awarded the Medal of Honor. Photos via the U.S. Naval Institute and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
More than 70 years after he took part in the longest dogfight in Navy history, scoring four aerial victories, Royce Williams might finally get the Medal of Honor.
Over the weekend, Congress released the text for the compromise National Defense Authorization Act, the annual defense policy bill outlining spending plans and goals. This year, it is a record $901 billion. Nestled into the large defense appropriations bill is Sec. 591, which would upgrade Williams’ Navy Cross to the Medal of Honor for “acts of valor during the Korean War.”
Those acts involve taking on seven Soviet MiG-15s in a 35-minute dogfight almost singlehandedly, in a battle that was kept under wraps for years despite Williams’ achievements.
On Nov. 18, 1952, Williams — then a Navy lieutenant flying in his Grumman F9F-5 Panther for his second mission that day — was with three other aviators over the Sea of Japan when seven Soviet Air Force fighter planes emerged. Two of the American planes had to return to their ships due to mechanical issues, leaving just Williams and his wingman in the skies as the Soviets closed in. As they flew by, Williams let out a burst of his F9F’s guns, scoring a hit. One MiG went down, with Williams’ wingman breaking off to chase it. Royce Williams was now alone, against six Soviet pilots in jets that were more advanced than his.
Over the course of 35 minutes, Williams banked and weaved his Panther, trying to avoid getting in the MiGs’ sights. He quickly downed a second Soviet jet, and kept using his maneuverability to line up passing shots with his limited ammo. He took out a third. Then he heavily damaged another that was eventually lost.
“In the moment I was a fighter pilot doing my job,” Williams told Task & Purpose in 2022. “I was only shooting what I had.”
Eventually, he ran out of ammunition and was forced to break off. He flew back to the Navy task force — which fired on him at first, mistaking him for the many more Soviet planes that had outnumbered him — and managed to land. After-action inspections found 263 bullet holes in his Panther. Somehow, Williams and the plane survived.
For his actions in the wild dogfight that day, Williams was awarded a Silver Star. But his actions were covered up — and his official victories listed as downing one enemy plane and damaging another — over fears it could heighten U.S.-Soviet tensions. So for the rest of his career, which included actions in Vietnam and commanding a ship, his record stayed that way, the truth kept hidden. It was only in the 21st century that retired Capt. Williams’ story came out.
For more than a decade, there has been a push to get Williams the Medal of Honor, with backers including retired Rear Adm. Doniphan Shelton and members of Congress. Three years ago, in December 2022, then-Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro upgraded his Silver Star to a Navy Cross, saying that Williams “clearly distinguished himself during a high-risk mission and deserve[s] proper recognition.” Williams received the award in January 2023.
The text in this year’s defense spending bill would authorize awarding Williams, who is now 100, the Medal of Honor and waive any time limitations on presenting him with the award.
Voting on the bill is expected this month.
