AWARDED DFC: 7
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Vietnam
MODEL:  A-1H, F-4E, F-4D

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant George W. Norwood for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an A-1H pilot near Polei Kleng, Republic of Vietnam, on 12 February 1969. On that date Lieutenant Norwood was scrambled to support a friendly team that was surrounded by a large hostile force. Lieutenant Norwood made repeated ordnance delivery passes, each extremely dangerous due to the heavy ground fire, the rapidly rising terrain, and the very restricted visibility due to smoke and haze. His aggressive attacks and pinpoint ordnance delivery allowed the resupply of the friendly team and the evacuation of the wounded. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Norwood 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 First Lieutenant George W. Norwood for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an A-1H Tactical Fighter Pilot near Ben Ret, Republic of Vietnam, on 28 July 1969. On that date, Lieutenant Norwood led a flight of A-1H aircraft through marginal weather, rough terrain and heavy hostile fire to support a Special Forces patrol which was in danger of annihilation deep in hostile territory. In spite of hazardous conditions and equipment malfunctions, Lieutenant Norwood repeatedly attacked the hostile forces who broke off their attack allowing subsequent evacuation. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Norwood 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 First Lieutenant George W. Norwood for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an A-1H Tactical Fighter Pilot near the Duc Lap Special Forces Camp, Republic of Vietnam on 4 November 1969. On that date, Lieutenant Norwood repeatedly exposed himself to heavy hostile fire in support of a Vietnamese Ranger Company and its American advisors who were surrounded and under attack by a numerically superior force. Despite rough jungle terrain and marginal weather conditions, Lieutenant Norwood’s repeated attacks against the hostile gun positions are credited with saving the lives of many American and Free World Forces personnel. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Norwood reflects 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 Captain George W. Norwood for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-4E Aircraft Commander in Southeast Asia on 17 September 1972. On that date, responding to a distress call from another flight, Captain Norwood arrived at the scene of a rescue effort in hostile territory where shore batteries were firing at the rescue force. Despite intense and accurate antiaircraft fire and the constant threat of surface-to-air missiles, Captain Norwood repeatedly attacked the gun positions with bombs and cannon fire, effectively suppressing them and allowing the rescue force to exit the area without harm. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Norwood 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 Captain George W. Norwood for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an F-4D Aircraft Commander over hostile territory on 12 October 1972. On that date, Captain Norwood, with skill and determination, participated in the aggressive attack and destruction of a hostile aircraft that was seriously jeopardizing a large bomber force. Despite marginal weather conditions and an intense antiaircraft and surface-to-air missile environment, Captain Norwood fearlessly accomplished his assigned mission to protect the bomber force. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Norwood reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

6.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (FIFTH OAK LEAF CLUSTER) to Captain George W. Norwood for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-4E Aircraft Commander over Southeast Asia on 7 October 1972. On that date, Captain Norwood led a search and destroy flight which attacked hostile antiaircraft sites. Despite extremely heavy antiaircraft fire, Captain Norwood destroyed ten antiaircraft guns and associated supplies. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Norwood 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 Captain George W. Norwood for heroism while participating in aerial flight at Hanoi, North Vietnam, on 6 October 1972. On that date, Captain Norwood led the F-4E attack element of a mixed F-105G/F-4E hunter-killer team in the destruction of two of the innermost surface-to-air missile sites defending Hanoi. Continually under fire by surface-to-air missiles, Captain Norwood penetrated to the outskirts of Hanoi and, despite a cloud partially obscuring this target and heavy and accurate antiaircraft artillery fire which tracked him during his delivery, personally and unassisted destroyed a firing surface-to-air missile site. He then participated in the destruction of a second site and the neutralization of another to allow the safe departure of the strike force before himself exiting the Red River Valley. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Norwood reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.