AWARDED DFC: 2
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Vietnam
MODEL:  UH-1

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Wimpy D. Pybus, Warrant Officer 1, United States Army, Company B 1st Aviation Battalion, Republic of Vietnam, for action dated 25 September 1966 for heroism while participating in aerial flight: On this date, Warrant Officer Pybus was serving as pilot of a UH-ID command and control helicopter supporting ground tactical operations of the 2d Brigade. As Warrant Officer Pybus flew his aircraft over an infantry patrol penetrating the thick vegetation below him, he observed an explosion which threw a member of the patrol to the ground. Warrant Officer Pybus immediately took action to land and evacuate the casualty. Knowing full well that there were mines and Viet Cong in the vicinity, but also being aware that the wounded soldier was in grave danger of losing his life if he wasn’t evacuated as soon as possible, Warrant Officer Pybus elected to land his aircraft in the nearest landing zone. This clearing was so restricted that upon the completion of the landing, the main rotor blade was touching branches on two sides and the tail rotor was touching a tree. Undaunted, Warrant Officer Pybus requested that the wounded soldier be loaded. He then initiated a vertical take-off to clear the obstacles and proceeded to the nearest medical facility. Six minutes elapsed between the moment at which Warrant Officer Pybus touched down in the restricted landing zone until the wounded soldier was being carried into a hospital. The courageous manner in which Warrant Officer Pybus disregarded his own safety to pilot his helicopter under extremely hazardous conditions was primarily responsible for saving the wounded soldier’s life. Warrant Officer Pybus' extraordinary flying skill and his personal bravery is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division and the United States Army.

2.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (First Oak Leaf Cluster) to Wimpy D. Pybus, Second Lieutenant, Transportation Corps, United States Army, Company B 1st Aviation Battalion, Republic of Vietnam, for action dated 7 November 1966 for heroism while participating in aerial flight: On this date, Lieutenant Pybus was aircraft commander of a command and control helicopter flying in support of an infantry unit which was heavily engaged with a numerically superior Viet Cong force. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Lieutenant Pybus made several dangerous low level passes to mark a landing zone with smoke grenades. This enabled a medevac helicopter to locate the evacuation site with minimal exposure to the insurgent fire. He then joined in the extraction as other helicopters neared the landing zone. Although many of the aircraft sustained extensive damage from hostile fire, Lieutenant Pybus completely disregarded the intense enemy fire and landed. He insured that the most severely wounded men were loaded aboard his aircraft, and then flew out of the landing zone to the nearest medical station. Lieutenant Pybus' display of daring courage and determination under fire was largely responsible for the successful evacuation of the wounded men. Second Lieutenant Pybus' actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division and the United States Army.