The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Colonel James Lindberg Hughes (AFSN: 0-432211A), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Pilot over North Vietnam on 14 April 1967. On that date, Colonel Hughes attacked a ferry complex in hostile territory. In spite of extremely poor weather and heavy hostile fire, he and his flight destroyed five barges, a pier complex, and three trucks fleeing the area with supplies. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Colonel Hughes reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Colonel James Lindberg Hughes (AFSN: 0-432211A), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Pilot over North Vietnam on 30 April 1967. On that date, Colonel Hughes destroyed a high priority target and a reinforced concrete railway bridge in North Vietnam, in spite of heavy anti-aircraft fire. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Colonel Hughes reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Colonel James Lindberg Hughes (AFSN: 0-432211A), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Pilot over North Vietnam on 18 April 1967. On that date, Colonel Hughes was a member of a flight of F-105’s assigned to bomb a vital steel mill in North Vietnam. Despite extremely heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire and the SA-2 surface-to-air missile threat, Colonel Hughes made a successful strike on this strategic target. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Colonel Hughes reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Colonel James Lindberg Hughes (AFSN: 0-432211A), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Pilot over North Vietnam on 30 March 1967. On that date, Colonel Hughes was assigned the task of acting as a diversion for a low level strike on a major target in North Vietnam. In this diversionary role, Colonel Hughes’ flight had three deadly SA-2 missiles explode in and around them. The flight also was engulfed by flak while over the target. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Colonel Hughes reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.