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 Staff Sergeant James Leon Lollar, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a B-52G Fire Control Operator near Quang Tri, South Vietnam on 17 December 1972. On that date, Sergeant Lollar was lead Fire Control Operator of a three-ship B-52 cell. Due to equipment malfunctions, Sergeant Lollar had to direct the other aircraft to the target area using his Fire Control System. Despite violent evasive maneuvers necessitated by accurate anti-aircraft fire from the ground, Sergeant Lollar successfully directed the aircraft to their assigned target. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Lollar 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 Staff Sergeant James Leon Lollar, United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a Fire Control Operator near Hanoi, North Vietnam on 20 December 1972. On that date, as a crew member of a B-52 engaged in one of the largest conventional bombing raids ever amassed in the recent history of aerial warfare, Sergeant Lollar received significant battle damage to his aircraft as the result of extremely heavy hostile fire. Sergeant Lollar and his crew were targeted against massed supplies, communications equipment, and transportation lines in order to eliminate the aggressor’s capacity to initiate an offensive and despite receiving heavy battle damage and incurring grave personal danger, Sergeant Lollar and his crew were able to destroy the target even though the loss of the aircraft was imminent. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Lollar reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.