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 addition to a previously awarded Silver Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Seventh Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to Major Lanny Thomas Gus Lancaster (AFSN: FR-63943), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight near Yen Bai Airfield, North Vietnam, on 2 June 1972. On that date, Major Lancaster displayed outstanding airmanship despite prevailing weather conditions that made the mission of interdicting the airfield extremely hazardous. Under these conditions, Major Lancaster was able to release his ordnance on the target thereby damaging the southeast corner of the airfield. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Lancaster 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 Captain Lanny Thomas Gus Lancaster (AFSN: FR-63943), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller and Pilot of an F-100 aircraft, in action over Southeast Asia on 9 February 1968. On that date, Captain Lancaster led his flight down through the overcast and made two dry passes over the beleaguered town while Andy 75 pointed out the friendly positions, described the restricted attack heading to be used, and marked the Viet Cong gun emplacements closest to the besieged Popular Forces compound. He displayed a clearly outstanding ability to provide extremely accurate air support in the face of intense and accurate ground fire, adverse weather conditions, and in close proximity to friendly forces. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Lancaster 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 Lanny Thomas Gus Lancaster (AFSN: FR-63943), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller and Pilot of an F-100 aircraft, while operating over North Vietnam on 19 June 1968. On that date, Captain Lancaster discovered and coordinated the destruction of a well camouflaged truck part complex and supply area. He remained in the target area for over three hours braving intense automatic weapons and small arms fire while making numerous low level reconnaissance and marking passes to locate new targets and to access bomb for the nine flights of fighters that succeeded in destroying this vital link in the North Vietnamese transportation system. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Lancaster 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 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Sixth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Lanny Thomas Gus Lancaster (AFSN: FR-63943), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-4D Aircraft Commander of the 8th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in action in Southeast Asia on 22 November 1971. On that date, Captain Lancaster flew a strike mission against a large truck park and storage area located deep in hostile territory. Defenses in the immediate target area included two active surface-to-air missile sites and multiple heavy antiaircraft positions. Despite intense and tracking antiaircraft fire directed at his aircraft, Captain Lancaster made repeated dive-bombing passes on the target which resulted in one antiaircraft position silenced, four trucks destroyed, five large sustained fires, and eleven secondary explosions. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Lancaster 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 Lanny Thomas Gus Lancaster (AFSN: FR-63943), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller and Pilot of an F-100 aircraft, while operating over North Vietnam on 7 May 1968. On that date, while participating as an F-100F Forward Air Controller, Captain Lancaster discovered a well camouflaged logistics storage area through low altitude visual reconnaissance. With disregard for his personal safety in an area known to be heavily defended, Captain Lancaster made low altitude passes to mark and identify the target for strike aircraft. Captain Lancaster described the target area in such professional detail and marked it with such pin-point accuracy that the target was immediately found and successfully attacked by the strike aircraft. The courageous, accurate and professional air control by Captain Lancaster resulted in an extensive amount of damage to the logistics system of the hostile forces. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Lancaster 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 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Lanny Thomas Gus Lancaster (AFSN: FR-63943), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller and Pilot of an F-100 aircraft, while operating over North Vietnam on 20 March 1968. On that date, Captain Lancaster located, halted, and directed fighters against one of the most lucrative vehicle convoys ever sighted in North Vietnam. He stopped the movement of numerous vehicles with strafing passes. After he had expended all of his ammunition, he continued to thwart attempts by hostile forces to move the vehicles by making low level passes over the convoy, through intense hostile groundfire, until ordnance laden fighters arrived. His professional direction of the flights dealt the hostile forces a severe blow in their re-supply efforts and trapped numerous vehicles for attacks by later flights. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Lancaster 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 with Combat “V” to Captain Lanny Thomas Gus Lancaster (AFSN: FR-63943), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller and Pilot of an F-100 aircraft, while operating over North Vietnam on 2 April 1968. On that date, Captain Lancaster coordinated the destruction of several large groups of trucks and stockpiled supplies that were vital resources being used by the hostile forces in their supply efforts. In the conditions of accurate ground fire and mountainous terrain, he made over thirty low altitude passes over the target area, ignoring his personal safety to deal the opposing forces a severe blow. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Lancaster reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.