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 Mark Aaron Chance, United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an F-111F Weapon Systems Officer over Qalat Salih Airfield, Iraq, on 17 January 1991. On that date, Captain Chance flew as lead Weapon Systems Officer on his mission to destroy aircraft shelters housing SCUD missiles. Approaching the target, the anti-aircraft fire was extremely heavy blocking the approach to the target. Captain Chance called immediately for the flight to climb to medium altitude to avoid the anti-aircraft artillery fire and continued in for the attack. He broke out of his assigned target from a cluttered airfield environment and destroyed it with GBU-24A/B laser guided munitions. Destruction of these SCUT missiles and a hardened aircraft shelter reduced Iraq’s capability to launch attacks on the coalition forces. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Chance reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.