Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Commander

    Action Date:

    September 15, 1999

    Citation Courtesy of the Distinguished Flying Cross Society – www.dfcsociety.org

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander Edward J. D’Angelo, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot, Flight Leader, and Rescue Mission Commander assigned to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron ELEVEN on 15 September 1999. On three occasions, Lieutenant Commander D’Angelo flew his helicopter into the heart of Hurricane FLOYD to effect the rescue of eight men whose ship was sunk by the storm and another who suffered a broken back on a civilian freighter. Battling 50-knot winds and 30-foot seas that rendered his aircraft’s stabilization and altitude hold equipment useless, he flawlessly maintained a manual hover in treacherous conditions while hoisting three survivors, adrift in lifejackets, from the deadly seas. After refueling, Lieutenant Commander D’Angelo launched again. With severely reduced visibility due to hurricane squalls, he modified the flight’s search and coordinated the rescue of five survivors found adrift in a raft by the wingman of DRAGONSLAYER 616. On his third sortie, Lieutenant Commander D’Angelo then piloted a daring rescue of a freighter crewman with a broken back. Hovering between superstructure obstacles on the severely pitching deck of the freighter, he expertly maintained position for 45 minutes while his crew hoisted the litter-bound victim to safety. By his superb airmanship, courage under extremely hazardous conditions, and steadfast devotion to duty, Lieutenant Commander D’Angelo reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.