The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander Robert B. Arnold, United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as a jet attack pilot serving with Attack Squadron One Hundred Sixty-four embarked in U.S.S. Oriskany (CVA-34) over hostile North Vietnamese territory on 4 September 1967. Lieutenant Commander Arnold planned, briefed, and led an extremely successful 22-plane air-wing strike against the An Luan Military Supply Depot located seven miles southwest of Haiphong. This heavily defended strategic target was the primary supply source for the concentration of sophisticated enemy defenses in and around the major port facility. Lieutenant Commander Arnold distinguished himself through meticulous preflight planning and briefings in which he devised a plan of action to ensure maximum tactical deception to confuse and surprise the enemy defenses in the area. He displayed the highest degree of courage, aerial leadership, and aggressive determination to accomplish the task at hand as he led the strike group to the target. In spite of deteriorating weather, Lieutenant Commander Arnold succeeded in maintaining the integrity of his strike group while evading a barrage of surface-to-air missiles fired at the main force approaching the target. Encountering accurate anti-aircraft fire over the target, he courageously led the entire strike group in an extremely accurate and successful dive-bombing attack. All bombs blanketed the target area, creating large secondary explosions with dense smoke billowing to 10,000 feet. Ten major warehouse storage areas five military barracks and three support building were destroyed. Fires still burning fiercely four hours after the attack, assured even greater damage to this strategic target complex. Lieutenant Commander Arnold’s brilliant planning, gallant flight leadership, and courageous decision-making under enemy fire assured the success of this important mission which significantly crippled the enemy’s capability to supply its Haiphong defenses. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Third Gold Star in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander Robert B. Arnold, United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as a jet attack pilot serving with Attack Squadron One Hundred Sixty-four embarked in U.S.S. Oriskany (CVA-34) on 26 October 1967. Lieutenant Commander Arnold was the leader of a division of surface-to-air missile suppression aircraft in support of a major strike against the Hanoi Thermal Power Plant. This primary source of power for the enemy’s capital city was fiercely defended by the most sophisticated array of anti-aircraft batteries and surface-to-air missile sites in all of North Vietnam. Lieutenant Commander Arnold distinguished himself by his meticulous preflight planning and attention to detail in positioning the available missile-suppression aircraft so as to provide maximum protection to the main strike force. He assigned each member of his flight a specific high threat occupied missile site to take under direct attack. Approaching the target area, Lieutenant Commander Arnold accelerated ahead of the main force, penetrated the enemy’s inner defenses and executed a daring attack on a high threat active missile site two miles to the east of Hanoi. He completed two successful attacks with his antiradar missiles in the face of intense, accurate anti-aircraft fire. His weapons were observed impacting in the radar vans and destroyed the critical missile guidance radar. While encountering heavy, accurate 85 and 57 millimeter anti-aircraft fire, he courageously repositioned himself for an attack on the missiles and launchers with his remaining bombs. In spite of the immediate danger to his own safety, he executed a precision attack and destroyed two launchers with missiles poised for firing. Lieutenant Commander Arnold’s thorough planning, professional leadership and aggressive execution of the demanding surface-to-air missile suppression role which resulted in the confirmed destruction of an active enemy missile site in the face of the fiercest enemy resistance made a significant contribution to the success of the primary mission. His heroic actions and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander Robert B. Arnold, United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as a jet attack pilot serving with Attack Squadron One Hundred Sixty-four embarked in U.S.S. Oriskany (CVA034) on 25 October 1967. Lieutenant Commander Arnold led a division of surface-to-air missile suppression aircraft in support of one of the largest, most significant strikes of the war against the Phuc Yen Airfield located 11 miles north of Hanoi, North Vietnam. He distinguished himself by his meticulous preflight planning and effective utilization of the missile-suppression aircraft, in the face of the most sophisticated array of enemy surface-to-air sites yet encountered. Approaching the target area Lieutenant Commander Arnold accelerated ahead of the main force and penetrated the inner line of defenses to execute an anti-radar missile attack against an occupied surface-to-air missile installation two miles west of Hanoi. While recovering from this successful attack, which silenced the enemy missile site, he encountered two surface-to-air missiles fired at him from another site. He outmaneuvered the tracking missiles and unhesitatingly attacked the site from which they had been observed to lift off. He forced the missile guidance radar to go off the air with the successful delivery of his last remaining missile sites in the Hanoi area until the main strike force was clear. During this time, he was continuously exposed to accurate 95 mm anti-aircraft. As he departed the target area, Lieutenant Commander Arnold passed over an auxiliary airfield, 15 miles west of Hanoi, and sighted a jet aircraft near the end of one of the runways. He immediately attacked this lucrative target in spite of intense 37-mm. fire from guns on the field. His bombs completely engulfed and destroyed the aircraft. Lieutenant Commander Arnold, through his detailed planning, effective utilization of forces available and aggressive execution of the surface-to-air missile suppression mission, enabled the strike group to inflict severe damage to this strategic target without loss of an aircraft. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.