AWARDED DFC: 9
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Vietnam
MODEL:  F-100, F-4D

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major (then Captain) Albert S. Munsch, Jr. Major Munsch distinguished himself by extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-100 Pilot in Southeast Asia on 21 March 1967. On that date, Major Munsch led a flight of two F-100 aircraft in support of the 25th Infantry Division which was under heavy attack from a large hostile force. With complete disregard for his own safety, Major Munsch led numerous low altitude ordnance deliveries with extreme accuracy and effectiveness through intense automatic weapons fire. Despite low ceilings and restricted visibility, Major Munsch’s attacks in the face of hostile fire were so accurate that hostile forces were completely suppressed and forced to withdraw from the attack, thereby saving countless lives of friendly forces. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Munsch 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 (First Oak Leaf Cluster) to Major Albert S. Munsch, Jr. Major Munsch distinguished himself by extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-100 Pilot in Southeast Asia on 11 June 1967. On that date, Major Munsch participated in a combat strike on a Viet Cong heavy weapons and storage position in southern An Xuyen province. During the strike, intense automatic weapons and small arms fire forced two strike aircraft to hold high while Major Munsch suppressed the fire with three low level, highly vulnerable, anti-personnel weapons attacks. With total disregard for his own safety, Major Munsch pressed his attack even though he was sustaining several hits upon his aircraft. During the attack, although he had himself suffered battle damage, Major Munsch was forced to assume command of the flight and lead it back to Bien Hoa, when the leader experienced radio failure and fuel difficulties. During the attack heavy damage was inflicted upon the Viet Cong. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by displayed by Major Munsch 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 (Second Oak Leaf Cluster) to Major Albert S. Munsch, Jr. Major Munsch distinguished himself by extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-4D Aircraft Commander in Southeast Asia on 7 April 1972. On that date, despite heavy anti-aircraft artillery fire and surface-to-air missiles, Major Munsch delivered his ordnance on the missile launch complex and surrounding hostile anti-aircraft artillery sites. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by displayed by Major Munsch 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 (Third Oak Leaf Cluster) to Major Albert S. Munsch, Jr. Major Munsch distinguished himself by extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-4D Aircraft Commander in Southeast Asia on 11 May 1972. On that date, Major Munsch led two flights of F-4s on an extremely hazardous mission in support of strike forces attacking a heavily defended, high priority target. Despite the hazards of numerous surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft artillery fire, and hostile fighters which attacked his formation, he was able to successfully support the strike forces in destroying their assigned targets. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by displayed by Major Munsch 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 (Fourth Oak Leaf Cluster) to Major Albert S. Munsch, Jr. Major Munsch distinguished himself by extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-4D Aircraft Commander in Southeast Asia on 25 May 1972. On that date, Major Munsch led a flight of four fighter aircraft on a raid deep within hostile territory. Despite nearly impossible weather conditions, surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft fire, and attacking hostile aircraft, Major Munsch placed his ordnance on target. His accurate bombing resulted in the destruction of a major railroad bridge, a vital link in the hostile forces’ supply network. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by displayed by Major Munsch reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

6.) The award of The Distinguished Flying Cross (Fifth Oak Leaf Cluster) to Albert S Munsch, Jr.: Major Albeit S. Munsch, Jr. distinguished himself by heroism while participating in aerial flight as an Aircraft Commander in Southeast Asia on 10 June 1972. On that date, while acting as lead of a strike flight, Major Munsch contributed immeasurable to the success of a strike directed against a vital hydroelectric power generating station which was indispensable to war making capabilities of a hostile armed force. In the face of overwhelming defenses and poor weather conditions, Major Munsch pressed the attack with total disregard for his own personal safety, resulting in the total destruction of the facility. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Munsch reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

7.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Sixth Oak Leaf Cluster) to Major Albert S. Munsch, Jr. Major Munsch distinguished himself by extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-4 Aircraft Commander over Southeast Asia on 10 September 1972. On that date, Major Munsch struck a barracks and anti-aircraft artillery facility located deep inside hostile territory. Despite the hostile defenses, which were further complicated by marginal weather conditions, Major Munsch managed to achieve the following bomb damage assessment: three buildings destroyed, two buildings heavily damaged, one building moderately damaged and four buildings lightly damaged. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by displayed by Major Munsch reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

8.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Seventh Oak Leaf Cluster) to Major Albert S. Munsch, Jr. Major Munsch distinguished himself by heroism while participating in aerial flight as an F-4 Aircraft Commander over North Vietnam on 21 December 1972. On that date, Major Munsch led a flight of F-4 aircraft to spearhead an attack against an important thermal power plant. Despite the threat of hostile aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, and countless rounds of anti-aircraft artillery, Major Munsch succeeded in rendering the power plant useless to the hostile forces. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Munsch reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

9.) Citation to accompany the award of the Disitinguished Flying Cross (Eighth Oak Leaf Cluster) to Albert S. Munsch Jr.: Major Albert S. Munsch Jr. distinguished hirnself by extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-4 Aircraft Commander over North Vietnam on 11 September 1972. On that date, Major Munsch led a strike against a heavily defended railroad siding in Route Package Six, North Vietnam. Encountering over 2,000 rounds of antiaircraft artillery fire, Major Munsch successfully led his flight to the target and inflicted severe damage to the rail road siding and its support facilities. The destruction of this transshipment area seriously hindered the support and resupply of hostile forces and is a credit to Major Munsch's dedicated efforts. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Munsch reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.