AWARDED DFC: 3
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Vietnam
MODEL:  A6A

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant John E. Koch for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a Naval Flight Officer of jet aircraft while attached to Attack Squadron One Hundred Fifteen embarked in USS Midway (CVA41). On the night of 28 June 1972, Lieutenant Koch was the Bombardier/Navigator of an A6A aircraft on a single-plane armed reconnaissance mission into the heavily defended area of Route Package VI, North Vietnam. On a dark night with marginal weather and a degraded attack/navigation system in the aircraft, he expertly navigated around high terrain at low altitude to effectively prosecute an attack on the Kep airfield and railroad yard. Lieutenant Koch aided his Pilot in successfully evading four surface-to-air missiles and heavy radar-directed gunfire while placing his ordnance directly on the target. Lieutenant Koch's courage, aerial skill, and devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

2.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant John E. Koch for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a Naval Flight Officer attached to Attack Squadron One Hundred Fifteen embarked in USS Midway (CVA41). On the night of 9 August 1972, Lieutenant Koch was the Bombardier/Navigator of an A6A aircraft tasked with striking an important enemy thermal power plant in Bac Giang, North Vietnam. After a successful low level, high-speed attack, the aircraft was shaken and engulfed by the fireball from a surface-to-air missile. Lieutenant Koch provided the Pilot with essential terrain clearance information while alerting the surveillance aircraft of the existing problems. After determining that all systems were functioning normally, the crew successfully attacked an enemy trans-shipment point in Hon Gay, North Vietnam. Lieutenant Koch's courage, aerial skill and devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

3.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant John E. Koch for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a naval flight officer of jet aircraft attached to Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTEEN embarked in USS MIDWAY (CVA-41). On the night of 18 December 1972, Lieutenant Koch was the bombardier/navigator of an aircraft assigned to strike the vital Haiphong Thermal Power Plant located within one of the most highly defended areas of North Vietnam. He assisted his pilot in successfully eluding enemy missile defenses by providing valuable navigation and terrain clearance data during the extremely low altitude, high speed run. The crew pressed the attack through an extremely intense barrage of anti-aircraft fire and released their ordnance on target. The ensuing explosions and sustained fire were clearly visible to support aircraft several miles away from the target area. Lieutenant Koch’s superb airmanship, courage, and devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.