AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Vietnam
MODEL:  AC-119K

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major William F. Hoover for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an AC-119K Aircraft Commander in Binh Thaun Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 5 March 1970. On that date, Major Hoover was instrumental in repelling and defeating an attack, by a large hostile force, upon a fire support base operated by United States forces. Scrambled from a ground alert posture, Major Hoover's superior skill and aggressive direction brought the gunship over the beleaguered outpost in absolute minimum time to deliver devastating ordnance on the hostile force. Despite adverse weather, which required flying at less than optimum altitudes where strong winds in the mountainous terrain caused excessive turbulence permitting firing from only a small portion of the firing pattern, Major Hoover exercised extraordinary airmanship in directing extremely accurate fire repelling the attack and sparing an unknown number of American lives. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Major Hoover reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.