AWARDED DFC: 5
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Vietnam
MODEL:  RF-4C

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant John C. McFarren for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an RF-4C Weapons Systems Operator near Dong Hoe, North Vietnam, on 16 February 1972. While photographing priority targets within a high threat area, in which an aircraft had been shot down earlier that day, Lieutenant McFarren was engaged by several Surface to Air Missiles. Despite accurate ground tracking and missile guidance systems, Lieutenant McFarren successfully jammed the missiles with Electronic Countermeasure equipment and vectored his aircraft over the target complex. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant McFarren 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 First Lieutenant John C. McFarren for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an RF-4C Weapons Systems Operator near Dong Hoi, North Vietnam, on 17 February 1972. On that date, several Surface to Air Missiles were launched at Lieutenant McFarren's aircraft while he was obtaining vital photographic intelligence of hostile activities in the area between Dong Hoi and the Demilitarized Zone. Despite accurate ground tracking and missile guidance systems, Lieutenant McFarren successfully jammed the missiles with Electronic Countermeasure equipment and visually directed his aircraft into a position to best evade the hostile threat and photograph his assigned objectives. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant McFarren 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 John C. McFarren for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a Weapons Systems Operator near Qui Hau, North Vietnam, on 7 April 1972. On that date, Captain McFarren planned and flew a high priority reconnaissance mission into a heavy concentration of anti-aircraft artillery complexes and active Surface-to-Air Missile sites in support of the United States Air Force interdiction efforts. With great courage and without regard for his personal safety, Captain McFarren successfully obtained invaluable photography of Surface-to-Air Missile sites and troop and supply movements, despite extremely heavy and accurate hostile fire. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain McFarren 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 John C. McFarren for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an RF-4C Weapons Systems Operator northwest of Hanoi, North Vietnam, on 12 August 1972. On that date, Captain McFarren flew as number two wingman in a weather reconnaissance flight attacked by two hostile aircraft. Without regard for his personal safety, captain McFarren provided an invaluable contribution to the flight's success in eluding the initial attack and destroying one of the enemy aircraft in the following engagement. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain McFarren reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

5.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain John C. McFarren for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an RF-4C Weapons Systems Operator near Bat Lake, North Vietnam, on 18 September 1972. On that date, Captain McFarren flew a visual reconnaissance mission to locate and photograph suspected field artillery in close vicinity to Bat Lake. Although exposed to hostile antiaircraft artillery fire, captain McFarren penetrated the are and discovered multiple camouflaged gun emplacements and transport equipment. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain McFarren reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.