AWARDED DFC: 2
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  -
MODEL:  -

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Warrant Officer Frederick P. Loehmer for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty in the Republic of Vietnam. Warrant Officer Loehmer distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 20 January 1967 while serving as Pilot of an armed helicopter supporting Vietnamese combat operations near Tan Son Nhut Airbase. While flying ahead of advancing ground forces, Warrant Officer Loehmer discovered a Viet Cong company occupying heavily fortified positions and began a series of firing passes on them. Flying only a few feet above the ground, he relentlessly attacked the insurgents until they broke and ran, completely demoralized. After destroying these fortifications, Warrant Officer Loehmer sought out other hostile units in the area and strafed them with devastating results. On several occasions, his attacks contained enemy elements within small areas until Vietnamese troops reached the location. At times, when ground forces became engaged, his firing passes, striking only a few meters in front of friendly troops, suppressed the insurgents while the Vietnamese troops remounted their attack. Discovering five Viet Cong in a swamp, he brought his helicopter to a hover beside them, directed his crew in their capture and flew the insurgents to the battalion headquarters. During nine and one-half hours of flying Warrant Officer Loehmer was instrumental in destroying numerous enemy fortified complexes and in killing a total of 108 Viet Cong. Warrant Officer Loehmer's outstanding flying ability and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

2.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Chief Warrant Officer Frederick P. Loehmer for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty on 3 May 1970. Chief Warrant Officer Loehmer distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as Aircraft Commander of a helicopter engaged in the aerial extraction of combat ground troops and equipment. While flying with a full aircraft, he encountered extreme winds and air turbulence that arose without warning and was forced to return to his base camp. While enroute, he observed that one platoon of infantrymen still remained to be extracted and apparently would not be able to be extracted until the following day. Since the stranded platoon lacked adequate fire support and fortification materials to be able to defend their position, Chief Warrant Officer Loehmer volunteered to fly into the heart of a regimental-sized enemy base area to rescue the friendly troops from almost certain destruction. Despite an impending storm, he skillfully maneuvered his craft into the landing zone and completed the extraction successfully. Through his thorough professionalism and outstanding flying ability, he was directly responsible for insuring the safety of an entire platoon. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditional of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.