The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, 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 Captain John Joseph Wolcott (AFSN: FR-62806), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an A-1H Tactical Fighter Pilot of the 602d Special Operations Squadron, Nakhon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in action in Southeast Asia on 15 August 1970. On that date, Captain Wolcott flew three sorties in support of a long range United States Army team trapped deep within hostile territory. Despite extremely poor weather conditions, mountainous terrain, and intense and accurate ground fire which destroyed two helicopters and damaged four others, Captain Wolcott delivered his ordnance so accurately that the hostile forces were driven away. He then destroyed numerous hostile gun positions, setting the stage for a successful rescue of the stranded team. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Wolcott 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 with Combat “V” to Captain John Joseph Wolcott (AFSN: FR-62806), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an A-1H Tactical Fighter Pilot of the 602d Special Operations Squadron, Nakhon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in action in Southeast Asia on 13 December 1970. On that date, Captain Wolcott was launched in an A-1H Skyraider as mission commander on a Search and Rescue mission to recover two American pilots who were forced to abandon their aircraft along one of the most heavily defended segments of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Despite intense and highly accurate anti-aircraft fire, Captain Wolcott actively sought out hostile defenses, supervised numerous air strikes against these defenses, and then commanded the execution of his plan, resulting in the successful rescue of both downed pilots. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Wolcott 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 Fourth Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major John Joseph Wolcott (AFSN: FR-62806), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an A-1H Tactical Fighter Pilot of the 602d Special Operations Squadron, Nakhon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in action in Southeast Asia on 12 August 1970. On that date, Major Wolcott was the flight leader on a mission to recover friendly forces from a precarious position in hostile territory. In spite of battle damage inflicted by the extremely intense ground fire, he pressed the attack and destroyed two lethal antiaircraft gun positions and effected the successful rescue of the friendly patrol before further battle damage forced him to make an emergency recovery. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Major Wolcott 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 John Joseph Wolcott (AFSN: FR-62806), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of an A-1 Skyraider of the 602d Special Operations Squadron, Nakhon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in action in Southeast Asia on 20 July 1970. On that date, Captain Wolcott was scrambled to aid in the extraction of a team of friendly forces which had come under heavy attack by hostile forces deep within hostile territory. Piloting his heavy loaded Skyraider to tree-top level to deliver his anti-personnel ordnance with maximum accuracy, he was able to dispel the attacks of the hostile forces. Because of Captain Wolcott’s concentrated efforts, extremely accurate ordnance deliver, and outstanding airmanship in an extremely difficult and tense situation, the team of friendly forces was saved from overrun by the hostile forces, setting the stage for a successful rescue. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Wolcott, reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.