AWARDED DFC: 3
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Vietnam
MODEL:  F-4D

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain James J. Ridgway for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an F-4D Aircraft Pilot in Southeast Asia on 20 October 1968. On that date, Captain Ridgway led a flight of two fighters which had been scrambled to support the rescue of an F-4 crew and Jolly Green helicopter crew. Disregarding an estimated 1000 rounds of antiaircraft artillery and a 4000 foot overcast, Captain Ridgway tenaciously and accurately suppressed the hostile guns and was a deciding factor in the successful rescue of the six downed crew men. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Ridgway 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 James J. Ridgway for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-4D Aircraft Commander over Southeast Asia on 8 June 1970. On that date, Captain Ridgway attacked a truck convoy deep within hostile territory. Despite intense barrages of accurate antiaircraft artillery fire, Captain Ridgway made repeated dive bombing passes to precisely place his ordnance on the target, resulting in numerous secondary fires. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Ridgway 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 Captain James J. Ridgway for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an Aircraft Commander over Southeast Asia on 20 February 1970. On that date, Captain Ridgway’s outstanding airmanship contributed greatly to one of the most successful single missions flown in Southeast Asia. Captain Ridgway made four successive dive bombing runs through a hail of antiaircraft gun fire, precisely placed all of his ordnance on the target, and destroyed one of the largest hostile ammunition dumps and storage caches in all of Southeast Asia. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Ridgway reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.