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 Major Wintford Leslie Bazzell (AFSN: FR-44320), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight over North Vietnam on 7 July 1967. On that date, Major Bazzell was a member of a flight of four F-105 Thunderchiefs assigned the task of attacking the main runway of Kep Airfield. Despite intense and accurate flak that hit a flight member he attacked the target and with great skill placed his bombs accurately on the runway rendering it unserviceable for launching or recovering aircraft. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Bazzell 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 Fourth Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in addition to a previously awarded Silver Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Tenth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to Major Wintford Leslie Bazzell (AFSN: FR-44320), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a Pilot over North Vietnam on 19 December 1967. On that date, Major Bazzell was a member of a flight of four F-105 Thunderchiefs assigned to engage hostile surface-to-air missile sites in support of a major attack. Under continuous fire from eight surface-to-air missile sites and countless anti-aircraft artillery sites, Major Bazzell made repeated attacks on the missile sites threatening the strike force. As a direct result of his courageous actions, the force was able to successfully attack its assigned target in the most heavily defended area of North Vietnam without the loss of a single aircraft. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Bazzell 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 addition to a previously awarded Silver Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Ninth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Wintford Leslie Bazzell (AFSN: FR-44320), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Thunderchief Pilot over North Vietnam on 5 January 1968. On that date, Major Bazzell was a member of a flight of four F-105 Thunderchiefs assigned to attack a vital railroad bridge on the strategic northeast railroad connecting the capitol of North Vietnam with the industrial center of Southern China. In spite of poor visibility, intense anti-aircraft fire and harassing hostile interceptors, Major Bazzell completed his assigned mission with precise timing and exceptional skill, heavily damaging the bridge. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Bazzell 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 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of an Eleventh Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Wintford Leslie Bazzell (AFSN: FR-44320), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Thunderchief Pilot over North Vietnam on 15 December 1967. On that date, Major Bazzell was a member of a force of F-105s assigned to attack a vital railroad bridge in the vicinity of Hanoi. Major Bazzell bravely fought his way through heavy defenses to successfully hit his target. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Bazzell 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 addition to a previously awarded Silver Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of an Eighth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Wintford Leslie Bazzell (AFSN: FR-44320), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Thunderchief Pilot in Southeast Asia on 17 December 1967. On that date, Major Bazzell was a member of the flak suppression flight in a force of twenty F-105 Thunderchiefs assigned to attack a vital MiG interceptor base deep within North Vietnam. Despite poor visibility, hostile air power, intense ground fire, and an unplanned approach of the target, Major Bazzell delivered his ordnance precisely on target, successfully suppressing the hostile anti-aircraft for the rest of the flight. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Bazzell 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 Fourth Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to Major Wintford Leslie Bazzell (AFSN: FR-44320), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight over North Vietnam on 3 October 1967. On that date, Major Bazzell was a member of a flight of four F-105 Thunderchiefs assigned to strike a rail bridge deep in North Vietnam. When his flight leader was shot down over hostile territory, Major Bazzell orbited the downed airman to fly cover for the rescue force. During this operation, he was under almost constant attack by surface-to-air missiles, heavy anti-aircraft fire and harassing MiG aircraft. Despite these defenses, Major Bazzell remained on station to fly protective cover for the vulnerable rescue aircraft, and he departed only after his fuel supply was exhausted. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Bazzell 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 Major Wintford Leslie Bazzell (AFSN: FR-44320), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Thunderchief Pilot over North Vietnam on 12 August 1967. On that date, Major Bazzell flew a F-105 Thunderchief on a flak suppression mission against a hostile railroad and highway bridge. Evading four SA-2 missiles and intense flak that damaged five aircraft, Major Bazzell delivered his ordnance directly on an active flak site. The flight this day was credited with destroying four sites enabling the later combat pilots to deliver their ordnance more accurately. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by May Bazzell 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 to Major Wintford Leslie Bazzell (AFSN: FR-44320), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Thunderchief pilot over North Vietnam on 1 July 1967. On that date, Major Bazzell was assigned to destroy a vital rail yard and its rolling stock located in North Vietnam. Under adverse weather conditions and in the face of prolonged intense anti-aircraft fire, the flight members were able to locate and destroy several trains, a rail siding, and main track lines. In the face of extreme danger, and without the protection of the main force, the flight dealt a crippling blow to the opposing forces. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Bazzell 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 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in addition to a previously awarded Silver Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Seventh Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Wintford Leslie Bazzell (AFSN: FR-44320), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Thunderchief Pilot over North Vietnam on 24 October 1967. On that date, Major Bazzell was assigned the task of destroying the primary airfield of the North Vietnamese Air Force. Despite a heavy surface-to-air missile barrage and intense anti-aircraft fire, Major Bazzell skillfully delivered his ordnance on the target and inflicted great damage to the airfield facilities. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Bazzell 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 Major Wintford Leslie Bazzell (AFSN: FR-44320), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Thunderchief pilot over North Vietnam on 18 July 1967. On that date, Major Bazzell was a member of a flight assigned to attack the Kep Railroad yard located adjacent to the vital and heavily defended Kep Airfield. Despite intense anti-aircraft fire the flight destroyed the trains in an extremely accurate attack which resulted in several secondary explosions. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Bazzell reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.