AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Vietnam
MODEL:  AH-1G

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Chief Warrant Officer Eldridge Johnson, Jr., for extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as a pilot of an AH-1G Cobra, assigned to Charlie Troop, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment in the Republic of South Vietnam on 12 September 1971. On a test flight near a village known to house Viet Cong guerillas, Chief Warrant Officer Johnson lost all transmission fluid in-flight and successfully landed without further damage to the aircraft by perfectly executing an auto-rotation landing. Balancing the chaos of an auto-rotation landing and guerrilla villages near his location, Chief Johnson was able to coordinate the necessary supplies to fix his aircraft, ensure the safe return to base of his crewmember, and fly the AH-1G Cobra safely to the nearest base alone. Chief Johnson displayed exceptional skill during flight in a challenging environment, resulting in the recovery of his own downed aircraft. His actions reflect great credit upon himself, 2-17th Cavalry Regiments, the 101st Airborne Division, and the United States Army.