AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  -
MODEL:  -

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant (junior grade) Phillip Henry Waters, United States Naval Reserve, for heroic and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as bombardier/navigator of a jet aircraft attached to Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED NINETY-SIX, embarked in USS CONSTELLATION (CVA 64), on 31 August 1967. Lieutenant (junior grade) Waters displayed exceptional professional ability in the planning and execution of a coordinated Air Wing strike involving 20 aircraft against two adjacent targets located well within the high threat area south of Hanoi, North Vietnam. As pathfinder navigator for the strike group, Lieutenant (junior grade) Waters skillfully utilized his radar navigation system to lead all aircraft to the target area, despite being subjected to attack by six surface-to-air missiles. Lieutenant (junior grade) Waters continued to maintain an accurate navigational plot while his pilot was taking drastic evasive maneuvers to avoid the surface-to-air missiles. Lieutenant (junior grade) Waters assisted his pilot in making an extremely accurate and highly destructive attack by operating the aircraft's weapons release system while keeping his pilot advised of release parameters, thereby permitting his pilot to concentrate fully on tracking the aimpoint. Despite continuing warning of imminent attack by surface-to-air missiles, Lieutenant (junior grade) Waters's extraordinary professional ability and uncommon courage in the face of great danger were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.