AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  OAF
MODEL:  B-2

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Scott D. Vilter for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a B-2 Mission Commander at or near Yugoslavia on 25 April 1999. On that date, Captain Vilter's superior airmanship, professionalism, and skill were instrumental in the successful completion of a 28-hour combat sortie in support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's objectives in Operation Allied Force. Captain Vilter displayed exceptional courage, skill, and endurance while flying an approximately 30-hour combat mission, penetrating an advanced integrated air defense system that included an impressive array of ground threats and a substantial fighter threat. Captain Vilter successfully destroyed critical, high priority targets including a bridge in Novi Sad and the Valjevo Petroleum Production and Storage Facility while operation over active SA-3 sites. The success of this mission was crucial to the overall achievement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's directives, as well as the historic first use of air power alone to secure military objectives. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Vilter reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.