AWARDED DFC: 2
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  GWOT
MODEL:  F-15E

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Jeffery S. Patton for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-15E Pilot, 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, 332d Air Expeditionary Group, Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait on 25 October 2001. On that date, Captain Patton flew on his first combat mission over Afghanistan as wingman in a flight of two F-15E Strike Eagles tasked to strike a radar site and barracks facility near Maimana. Shortly after entering Afghani airspace he was re-tasked by the Combined Air Operations Center to a "highest priority” target in the vicinity of the Qandahar where fleeing Taliban leaders were detected seeking shelter in a roadside bunker complex. While enroute to the target, Captain Patton and the lead aircraft quickly developed a plan to destroy all eight roadside revetments and the leadership bunker. Under sporadic anti-aircraft artillery fire he demonstrated the highest degree of situational awareness and executed the coordinated attack flawlessly employing all nine of his guided bomb unit-12 laser guided bombs resulting in the destruction of eight separate targets. His flight departed for aerial refueling but was called back shortly thereafter to direct the employment of a flight of F-16's weapons onto the same target complex. Quickly grasping the non-standard tactic, Captain Patton maneuvered his aircraft into position to “buddy guide” two more guided bomb unit-12s onto the target completing the total annihilation of the bunker complex. By eliminating numerous enemy leaders, troops, equipment and infrastructure, Captain Patton directly contributed to the goal of rescuing the people of Afghanistan from the oppressive Taliban regime and furthered the goals of the United States war on terrorism. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Patton 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 Captain Jeffery S. Patton for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-15E Pilot, 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, 332d Air Expeditionary Group, Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait on 30 November 2001. On that date, while Captain Patton flew as wingman in a flight of two F-15E Strike Eagles providing close air support for United States Special Forces ground troops, his flight was re-tasked to reconnoiter ridgelines and canals in the vicinity of the Qandahar Airfield. During the reconnaissance of the canals, enemy forces fired upon his flight with hand-held surface-to-air missiles forcing Captain Patton to expertly maneuver his aircraft, dispense countermeasures and thereby defeat the weapons threatening his flight. After the third of what was ultimately a total of eight missiles launched, his flight pinpointed the location of the enemy surface-to-air missile fire and de-conflicted with the ground forward air controller to ensure no friendly forces were in the immediate vicinity. Once cleared by the forward air controller, Captain Patton performed a surgical retaliatory attack successfully using four guided bomb unit-12 laser guided bombs to destroy the missile launch site. Utilizing their remaining 14 guided bomb unit-12s, his flight then decisively struck numerous targets in the vicinity of Qandahar Airfield and passed coordinated to a B-1 bomber that employed five guided bomb unit-32s to continue the destruction. Captain Patton’s decisive action ensured air supremacy over Task Force 58 ground forces and directly contributed to their success resulting in fall of Qandahar Airfield the following day. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Patton reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.