AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Vietnam
MODEL:  B-57B

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumous) to Major William E. Cordero for heroism while participating in aerial flight as lead navigator of a flight of B-57B Tactical Bombers near Dong Xoai, Republic of Vietnam, on the night of 23 May 1965. Major Cordero successfully navigated his formation through extremely hazardous weather conditions in which the route and target area were almost continuously obscured by low cloud layers, thunderstorms and visibility of less than one mile. For one hour Major Cordero kept the formation oriented exactly over the target relying solely on dead reckoning procedures and intermittent glimpses of the terrain when illuminated by flare light. At the first break in the undercast, the formation penetrated the weather and Major Cordero immediately vectored the formation on a run-in heading directly into the target. Despite the extreme hazards of rapidly deteriorating weather and intense ground fire, Major Cordero kept the formation sufficiently well oriented to expend all ordnance on target. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Cordero reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.