AMONG THE BRAVE
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER…EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM… LIEUTENANT COLONEL WILLIAM EARL COOPER, USAF…
AIR FORCE CROSS
“The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the AIR FORCE CROSS to LIEUTENANT COLONEL (then Major) WILLIAM EARL COOPER, United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as Pilot of an F-105 airplane and Commander of the 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Korat Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, SEVENTH Air Force, in action on 24 April 1966. On that date, Lieutenant Colonel COOPER was the commander of a composite strike force of thirteen F-105 strike aircraft and 20 support aircraft whose mission was to destroy a vitally important target in North Vietnam. With full knowledge of the vast defense network aligned against them, Colonel COOPER briefed the strike force to keep him in sight during the flight but to remain at a lower altitude. He alone took the risk of entering the effective missile envelope to assure target acquisition. Although encountering several severe thunderstorms, he displayed superb navigation and airmanship in bringing the strike force precisely over the pre-planned check point and setting the force directly on line to the target. approximately 30 miles from the target, the countryside erupted with the heaviest anti-aircraft artillery barrage ever encountered by an attacking United States Force. Colonel COOPER instructed his pilots to take necessary evasive action while he remained on course to insure accurate navigation through the clouds which were obstructing the mission route. To further complicate the situation, he was advised by radio contact that a hostile missile launch was imminent. Again disregarding his own safety, Colonel COOPER pressed the attack with the strike force following below the clouds for visual target sighting. At the critical point, Colonel COOPER’s aircraft received a direct hit from the hostile fire. The extraordinary heroism and exceptional airmanship displayed by Colonel COOPER are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.”
