F4
Phantom

In 1972, Captain Bill Boston received the Distinguished Flying Cross for an act of valor during the Vietnam War. Captain Burnley L. Rudiger describes the mission in his Letter of Commendation, November 13, 1971. Click here to see the letter of Commendation.
Deep in enemy territory, Capt. Rudiger and his team of twelve men requested further support for his mission, after the initial support given by the US Army Cobra gunships were completely expended. Two F4-Phantoms were dispatched and briefed as to the critical nature of the mission and the poor weather.
In Captain Rudiger’s words, “ This entire mission was flown in a very hostile small arms and 50 caliber antiaircraft environment and well within the range of these weapons. The weather was becoming almost unworkable. Without regard to his personal safety, Gunfighter 01 delivered his ordnance with an accuracy which would have been worthy of praise under even the best possible conditions. As a direct result of the efforts put forth by Gunfighter 01, the team was extracted safely from their position without loss.”
Capt. Bill Boston, Gunfighter 01, was Central Missouri Aviation’s 1999 Memorial Day Honoree.

The following description of the F4 Pahntom is courtesy of The Boeing Company
The Phantom was first used by the U.S. Navy as an interceptor but also was capable of flying as a ground-support bomber for the U.S. Marine Corps. The aircraft flew every traditional military mission: air superiority, close air support, interception, air defense suppression, long-range strike, fleet defense, attack and reconnaissance.

It could fly short training missions or 4.5-hour sorties as a Wild Weasel in search of anti-aircraft defense systems. It starred in both the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm with a record of 280 air-to-air victories and the destruction of more than 200 anti-aircraft sites.

The Phantom was the first multiservice aircraft, flying concurrently with the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. It is the first and only aircraft ever to be flown concurrently by both the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds. It has been flown by the defense forces of 11 other nations: Australia, Egypt, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Iran, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Spain and Turkey.

Letter of Commendation

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
20TH TACTICAL AIR SUPPORT SQUADRON (PACAF)
APO SAN FRANCISCO 96337

 FROM: Capt Burnley L. Rudiger/5400   13 November 1971

 SUBJECT:   Letter of Commendation

TO: Commander, 421 TFS

1.  On 12 November 1971, I was flying in support of a friendly reconnaissance team deep in enemy held territory.  The team, composed of 12 men, was in an exposed tactical position and had requested air support.  Two NVA platoons were reported on three sides of their position and small arms fire was directed at them from the east.  The team's tenuous position required immediate support to prevent being overwhelmed by the enemy.  United States Army Cobra gunships were used initially to cover the team but they were soon completely expended.

2.  Tactical Air Support was requested from Hillsboro due to the inability of the helicopters to break the troops in contact situation.  The weather at this time was 8/8 overcast with cloud bases at 5500 feet MSL.  The team was located in a valley which ran generally north-south with the terrain rising to the north.  The floor of the valley was 2800 feet at the team's location and the ridges on either side were up to 3800 feet.

3.  Gunfighter 01 and Gunfighter 02 were launched to support the operation.  Due to the deteriorating weather in the target area, they rendezvoused south of the target.  Both aircraft were briefed as to the critical nature of the mission, the poor weather, and were given a west to east run-in heading.  I assigned the fighters the airspace from 5500 feet to 4500 feet to maintain separation.  Upon descent below the clouds it was apparent that the weather had greatly deteriorated within the few minutes I had been away from the target area.  Bases of the clouds were at 4000 feet MSL and in some places were down to 3200 feet MSL with rain moving in from the north and west.

4.  After several dry passes for target acquisition and positive location of the friendly forces, Gunfighter 02 was cleared in on my mark.  The target was located about 125 meters from the friendly position and the team had waived minimum safe distances due to the tactical situation.  Gunfighter 02 delivered 2 MK-82 high drag bombs within 30 meters of the target.  The weather was now becoming almost unworkable and Gunfighter 02 was forced to hold high above the overcast due to the limited amount of workable airspace. 

5.  At this time, Gunfighter 01 was required to change the run in heading to the north south alignment of the valley in order to remain clear of the low clouds and rain in the target area.  This was a great handicap in that it caused his attack to cross a small spur off the main ridge, on which the enemy element was located, at 90 degrees.  Alignment errors were unacceptable due to the proximity of the friendly troops and range errors would be grossly increased due to the steep terrain.  Gunfighter 01 worked the target for the next 15 minutes under these hazardous conditions making several dry passes due to dud marking ordnance on the FAC aircraft.  All reported enemy concentrations were hit with some targets being as close as 75 meters to the friendly troops.  All ordnance was within 10 meters of the desired targets and his napalm was delivered with pinpoint accuracy.

6.  This entire mission was flown in a very hostile small arms and 50 caliber antiaircraft environment and well within the range of these weapons.  The weather and the team's location so restricted run in headings that evasive action was severely limited particularly with the degree of accuracy demanded by the situation.  Without regard to his personal safety, Gunfighter 01 delivered his ordnance with an accuracy which would have been worthy of praise under even the best possible conditions.

7.  As a direct result of the efforts put forth by Gunfighter 01, the team was extracted safely from their position without loss.  On my return to Da Nang, I was informed that Gunfighter 01 had been Captain William Boston.  I feel the performance of this man exemplifies that of the professional fighter pilot and this statement is based on eleven months of experience as a FAC.  Recommend Captain Boston be considered for the highest decoration commensurate with his act.