AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  -
MODEL:  HH-43B

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Eugene H. Boortz for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an HH-43B Rescue Crew Commander at Cam Ranh Bay Air Base, Republic of Vietnam on 3 March 1968. On that date, Captain Boortz made a night scramble to the site of an Air Force C-130 that had made an extremely hard landing, porpoised, and crashed on the runway. After expertly avoiding a collision with the burning aircraft, as it veered dangerously toward the rescue helicopter, Captain Boortz released the fire kit, deployed the firefighters and established a stable hover in their support. The C-130 with its engines still running then lurched forward requiring the helicopter to again be maneuvered quickly to avoid collision. Although realizing the strong possibility that the burning aircraft would again lurch forward, Captain Boortz repositioned his aircraft in a stable hover supplying vital fire suppressing and cooling air until the C-130 crew had been recovered and the fire extinguished. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Boortz reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.