The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Fourth Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to Captain Chester Willis Griffin, Jr. (AFSN: FR-63861), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Thunderchief Pilot of the 333d Tactical Fighter Squadron, Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in action over North Vietnam on 24 October 1967. On that date, Captain Griffin was the commander of the first bomb flight executed against a vital and previously un-struck airfield. In spite of adverse weather and intense flak, his professional leadership enabled the force to successfully strike the target. After the attack, he led his flight through barrages of surface-to-air missiles without damage to any of his aircraft. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Griffin reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of 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 a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Chester Willis Griffin, Jr. (AFSN: FR-63861), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Thunderchief Pilot of the 333d Tactical Fighter Squadron, Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in action over North Vietnam on 24 August 1967. On that date, Captain Griffin was directed on a flak suppression mission as part of a strike force against an important and heavily defended railroad yard. Captain Griffin’s aircraft was hit by an intense burst of flak as he approached the target, but without hesitation he risked his own life by diving his damaged aircraft through the barrages of flak to deliver his ordnance on the weapons sites threatening the strike force. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Griffin reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of 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 a Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Chester Willis Griffin, Jr. (AFSN: FR-63861), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Thunderchief Pilot of the 333d Tactical Fighter Squadron, Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in action over North Vietnam on 26 September 1967. On that date, Captain Griffin was the force commander of a strike force directed against an important and heavily defended rail yard and railroad bridge complex. The force was persistently engaged by MiG fighters prior to reaching their target, but Captain Griffin provided such professional leadership that they engaged the MiG’s without damage to any aircraft. Captain Griffin then led his lone flight to the target with full regard for the hostile environment and destroyed it. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Griffin reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of 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 to Captain Chester Willis Griffin, Jr. (AFSN: FR-63861), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Thunderchief Pilot of the 333d Tactical Fighter Squadron, Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in action over North Vietnam on 10 June 1967. On that date, Captain Griffin’s mission was flak suppression in the target area of an important and highly defended railyard. As he prepared for his bomb run, Captain Griffin located several flak sites threatening the strike force from a revetted area near an airfield adjacent to the target. Realizing the lucrative nature of the area, Captain Griffin rolled in and placed his ordnance directly on target. Besides the suppression of a serous threat to the bomb flights, post-strike photography confirmed the destruction of six MiG aircraft. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Griffin reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.