The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Chief Warrant Officer Douglas Emery Wilson, II (MCSN: WO-88744), United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a Bombardier/Navigator with Marine All Weather Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED FORTY-TWO (VMA(AW)-242), Marine Aircraft Group Eleven, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, on 17 November 1966, in connection with military operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. While on a routine radar bombing mission, Chief Warrant Officer Wilson’s A-6A fighter/bomber aircraft wad diverted to assist a Marine Reconnaissance Team which was surrounded and under heavy fire by an estimated 100 Viet Cong. His outstanding knowledge of the terrain, gained through participating in some 200 missions over the area, helped the pilot in locating the target in less than five minutes. Upon arriving at the target, it was discovered that the area would barely accommodate the aircraft’s turning radius. Utilizing the aircraft’s terrain clearance radar, he assisted the pilot in safely penetrating the overcast skies. In addition, due to the side-by-side configuration in which the pilot’s view on the right side of the aircraft is restricted, Chief Warrant Officer Wilson skillfully advised his pilot of hazardous terrain and materially assisted him in locating sources of enemy fire. Demonstrating his proficiency as a bombardier, a pinpoint delivery of ordnance was executed which silenced the enemy fire and enabled the Marine unit to be extracted without suffering any casualties. Chief Warrant Officer Wilson’s superior technical skill, steadfast courage and unwavering devotion to duty contributed significantly to the accomplishment of the mission and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
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Awards Received
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Silver Star
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
Chief Warrant OfficerBatallion:
Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 242 (VMA(AW)-242)Division:
1st Marine Aircraft WingAction Date:
July 12, 1967
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Chief Warrant Officer Douglas Emery Wilson, II (MCSN: WO-88744), United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a Bombardier/Navigator with Marine All Weather Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED FORTY-TWO (VMA(AW)-242), Marine Aircraft Group Eleven, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. Early on the morning of 12 July 1967, Chief Warrant Officer Wilson served aboard an A-6 attack aircraft launched on an interdiction mission against a heavily defended railroad yard in North Vietnam. Displaying exceptional technical ability, he skillfully utilized his aircraft’s complex navigational system and monitored his equipment to direct the pilot in maneuvering through the darkness over irregular and uncertain terrain in an attempt to deny prolonged hostile radar acquisition and to veil the intended target. Undaunted by the enemy’s integrated defense of surface-to-air missiles and radar controlled anti-aircraft weapons, he remained clam while manning his equipment to quickly supply the data that enabled the pilot to leave the masking terrain and fly at high speed at minimum terrain clearance to release his ordnance with pinpoint accuracy on the target. Despite the immediate North Vietnamese response of illuminating the area with searchlights, delivering an extremely heavy volume of anti-aircraft fire and launching surface-to-air missiles against his aircraft, he steadfastly monitored his instruments and utilized the complex systems to aid the pilot in skillfully maneuvering his aircraft in evasive action that successfully avoided the hostile fire and eluded the missiles as he expeditiously departed the area. Chief Warrant Officer Wilson’s superior professionalism, courage and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk were instrumental in accomplishing the hazardous mission and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
Chief Warrant OfficerBatallion:
Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 242 (VMA(AW)-242)Division:
1st Marine Aircraft WingAction Date:
October 27, 1967
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Chief Warrant Officer Douglas Emery Wilson, II (MCSN: WO-88744), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Bombardier/Navigator with Marine All Weather Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED FORTY-TWO (VMA(AW)-242), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 27 October 1967, Warrant Officer Wilson served aboard the second A-6 attack aircraft in a flight of two launched on a night interdiction mission against a vital highway and railroad bridge in the midst of a heavily defended area in North Vietnam. Aware that his aircraft had come under enemy radar surveillance as he neared the target area, Warrant Officer Wilson exhibited outstanding composure as he monitored his equipment and instruments and narrated information to the pilot to direct a high speed, low level flight over the hazardous terrain in the face of increasingly intense hostile fire. Undaunted by the enemy’s integrated surface-to-air missiles and radar-controlled anti-aircraft weapons, the large number of barrage balloons trailing cables to the ground throughout the target area and the threat of hostile aircraft from a nearby airfield, he steadfastly manned his equipment and provided data that enabled the pilot to maintain the low level approach to break the enemy radar lock on his aircraft. At the last moment, he directed the pilot to climb to the release point over the target. Despite the failure of his outboard wing stations to release their bombs, he released the balance of the ordnance with pinpoint accuracy on target. Warning the pilot of two missiles launched against the flight, he monitored his equipment to assist the pilot in taking evasive action only to discover and report that another missile had locked on to his aircraft. Displaying exceptional composure, he continued to effectively man his equipment in the face of great peril as he provided information that enabled his pilot to successfully avoid the missile and expeditiously depart the area. By his superior professional skill, courage and steadfast devotion to duty at great personal risk, Warrant Officer Wilson upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.