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 Captain George Candelori (AFSN: FR-70821), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a UH-1F Helicopter Pilot in Southeast Asia on 9 December 1967. On that date, Captain Candelori was pilot of an armed helicopter that responded to a call for help from a reconnaissance team that was pinned down by a large group of hostile forces. After making several low firing passes, the lead gunship lost both mini-guns and Captain Candelori volunteered to continue making passes alone in an attempt to break the attack. After fighter aircraft had expended their ordnance on the target, he again flew low level over the area to check for ground fire before an unarmed helicopter was called in to extract the team. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Candelori reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Awards Received
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Silver Star
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Silver Star
Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Order G-2518 (August 15, 1968)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain George Candelori (AFSN: FR-70821), United States Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as a Helicopter Pilot near Duc Yap, Republic of Vietnam, on 12 February 1968. On that date, while flying a helicopter gunship, Captain Candelori aided in the rescue of a six-man long range reconnaissance team that was on the verge of being surrounded and overrun by a hostile force of company size. Captain Candelori made numerous low level firing passes at this hostile position to give the team protection and time to move to a suitable landing zone for rescue. Despite intense automatic weapons fire that damaged his aircraft and wounded one of his gunners, Captain Candelori continued to make low level firing passes to keep the unfriendly forces occupied while an unarmed helicopter made a successful rescue of the team. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain Candelori has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Order G-2482 (August 13, 1968)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 Captain George Candelori (AFSN: FR-70821), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a UH-1F Helicopter Pilot near Ban Me Thuot, Republic of Vietnam, on 4 January 1968. On that date, Captain Candelori responded to a distress call from an F-100 pilot whose wingman had just been shot down. Arriving at the scene as the pilot’s parachute touched the ground, Captain Candelori immediately delivered protective fire around the downed pilot while an unarmed helicopter descended and made the pick up. A few minutes after the rescue, as he flew as number two of three armed helicopters that proceeded to the gun emplacement that had shot down the fighter pilot and despite intense ground fire, he was successful in destroying the target. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Candelori reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.