The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Robert Francis Hofford, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as pilot of a jet aircraft, while attached to and serving with Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE (VA-163), embarked in U.S.S. ORISKANY (CVA-34), during a combat mission over hostile territory near Ha Tinh, North Vietnam on 1 November 1965. As Section Leader in a two aircraft flight, Lieutenant Hofford, on a single mission, was instrumental in the destruction of two key highway bridges and the severe damaging of a third. In coordination with his wingman, and in spite of intense enemy anti-aircraft fire, he executed a daring, skillful, and accurate attack, and succeeded in destroying a major highway bridge with Bullpup missiles on the first attack. With ordnance remaining, the flight commenced an attack on the third bridge in the near vicinity, scoring a direct hit and inflicting severe damage. His highly skilled display of professional competence and superb teamwork in the face of heavy enemy opposition, made a significant contribution to interdiction efforts in North Vietnam and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.