AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Vietnam
MODEL:  C-47

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Technical Sergeant Francis W. Belanger for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a C-47 Loadmaster over Cam Lo, Republic of Vietnam, on 22 October 1969. On that date, Sergeant Belanger and crew received a request to fly a speaker broadcast and leaflet drop mission over a suspected concentration of hostile forces. Despite the aircraft receiving battle damage from intense small arms and automatic weapons fire, Sergeant Belanger’s calm attitude, keen sense of mission accomplishment, and strong devotion to duty enabled him to quickly and accurately dispense the leaflets and successfully complete this important mission which resulted in the recovery of several "ralliers” from the target area. The professional competence, ariel skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Belanger reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.