AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Desert Storm, GWOT
MODEL:  B-52

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Peter J. Costas for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a B-52 Pilot, 23d Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, 457th Air Expeditionary Group, near Baghdad, Iraq on 10 April 2003. On that date, Major Costas displayed outstanding airmanship and courage, under extremely hazardous conditions, against heavily defended SA-2 and SA-3 missile sites, facilities, and armored emplacements. Tasked to provide close air support in support of Task Force 20 and the urban Bagdad mission around the heavily defended city of Kirkuk and K-2 airfield, Major Costas employed his aircraft to attack the very SA-2 and SA-3 missile sites and facilities that were targeting his aircraft. Fully aware that he had no suppression of enemy air defense assets, and that his aircraft had an increased radar cross section and decreased performance due to a main gear stuck down, Major Costas prosecuted the attack. Engaged by an SA-3 target tracking radar and high caliber anti aircraft artillery batteries defending Republican Guard fortifications, Major Costas performed evasive maneuvers, and without regard to personal safety, continued to prosecute the attack to successful destruction. Returning to the target area a second time, he and the other members of the crew adjusted the axis of attack to minimize the aircraft exposure in the threat concentration area and targeted the same SA-3 that had engaged his aircraft on the previous run. Due to Major Costas' destruction of the targets, the enemy threat to coalition air assets was severely degraded in the region of Kirkuk and K-2 airfield. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Costas reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.