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 Airman Joseph E. Riley, United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight in the vicinity of Namsi-dong, Korea, while serving as B-26 gunner, 452nd Bomb Wing (Light), FIFTH Air Force. On 10 March 1952 while engaged in a night interdiction mission, he sighted a large convoy of enemy vehicles. Numerous glide bombing attacks were made which resulted in the destruction of six vehicles. Airman Riley assisted in guiding the pilot on a series of low level strafing passes that caused fires and explosions that destroyed additional vehicles. These attacks were pressed despite intense fire from enemy automatic weapons and hazardous mountain terrain and were continued until all ordnance was expended. As a result of this highly successful mission vital enemy supplies and transportation facilities were destroyed. By his high personal courage and devotion to duty, Airman Joseph E. Riley brought great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Awards Received
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Citation Courtesy of the Distinguished Flying Cross Society – www.dfcsociety.orgThe 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 with Combat “V” to Corporal Joseph E. Riley, United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a machine gunner on a B-26 airplane to Pyongyang, Korea on 29 December 1951. On that date, as a crew member of the B-26 aircraft, Corporal Riley was asked by his Commander to go out on the bomb bay and free the bomb. While Corporal Riley was working in the bay area the bomb fell off its shackles and scattered frag bombs all over the bomb bay. Also the bombs were armed because the pins were pulled when they fell and were very sensitive and could trip by the bomb nose hitting anything. Corporal Riley requested the bomb doors to be opened, hung on to some service lines which ran along the bomb bay with no parachute on and cleared the bombs. Despite the hazardous condition encountered by Corporal Riley he saved the lives of the remaining crewmen. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Corporal Riley reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Citation Courtesy of the Distinguished Flying Cross Society – www.dfcsociety.orgThe 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 with Combat “V” to Corporal Joseph E. Riley, United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a machine gunner on a B-26 airplane to Nakton, Korea on 7 January 1952. On that date, as a crew member of the B-26 aircraft, Corporal Riley was working in the bay area and was asked by his Commander to look through his small access door and see if a 500 lb bomb was hung on the racks. Corporal Riley reported an 80 lb incendiary bomb had released from its shackles and was resting on a 500 lb bomb that would not release from its shackles with the pin pulled. With the bomb doors opened, the outside temperature a minus 35 degrees and no parachute Corporal Riley pulled the incendiary of the GP. Despite the hazardous condition encountered by Corporal Riley he saved the lives of the remaining crewmen. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Corporal Riley reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.