AWARDED DFC: 4
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  -
MODEL:  F-100

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Edward J. Haerter for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 1 August 1968. On that date, Captain Haerter struck a target containing heavy road construction equipment being used to repair vitally important supply routes. The heavily camouflage equipment was in an almost inaccessible location for an air attack, at the bottom of an extremely narrow ravine which ended abruptly against a towering 3500 foot high mountain. Captain Haerter maneuvered his aircraft into the ravine and attacked the target with bombs, rockets and strafing passes, completely destroying it and denying hostile forces a main supply artery. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Haerter reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

2.) - The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Edward J. Haerter for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an F-100 pilot in Southeast Asia on 18 August 1968. On that date, Captain Haerter was scrambled as flight leader of BAT 01 flight form the alert pad at Phu Cat Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. Captain Haerter contact the Forward Air Controller and was advised of the extremely serious nature of the situation on the ground. Fully realizing the danger of flying through friendly artillery firing into the target area and the possibility of letting down into a thunderstorm embedded in the clouds, Captain Haerter began an immediate descent through the overcast. With complete disregard for his personal safety, under extremely hazardous weather conditions and directly into intense hostile ground fire, captain Haerter made repeated accurate weapons deliveries at minimum altitude in support of beleaguered friendly forces. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Haerter reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

3.) - The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Edward J. Haerter for heroism while participating in aerial flight on 1 November 1968. On that date, Captain Haerter provided flak suppression for aircraft delivering special ordnance into a heavily defended area. Captain Haerter made repeated low level ordnance delivery passes directly into heavy hostile ground fire, allowing a vitally important mission to be completed without mishap. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Haerter reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

4.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Edward J. Haerter for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an F-100 pilot in Southeast Asia on 22 January 1969. On that date, Captain Haerter was the fourth member of a four ship flight of F-100's which rendezvoused with the Forward Air Controller, Wolf O2. The enemy gunners were fully alerted to the airborne threat since the FAC drew heavy fire and the fighters dove through thick airbursts. Captain Haeter realized he would have to fly literally at point blank range to the ground fire to insure maximum delivery effectiveness but he willingly accepted the increased exposure to insure target destruction. Captain Haeter, with complete disregard for his personal safety, accomplished repeated ordnance deliveries through extremely heavy hostile ground fire to decimate a hostile supply convoy. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Haerter reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.