Page 61 - DFCS NEWS MAGAZINE 2018-2

P. Mason Carpenter
#1 The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain P. Mason Carpenter for heroism while participating in Aerial Flight as an F-111F Aircraft Commander in Western Iraq on 22 January 1991. On that date, Captain Carpenter lead a four-ship package against
three separate early warning radar sites and an Iraqi airfield in an effort to divert
enemy attention away from a search and rescue effort to recover a downed pilot in enemy territory. The mission was compounded by intense antiaircraft artillery fire and numerous surface-to-air missile threats along the ingress route in the target areas. The flight’s attack resulted in total early warning blackout and provided search and rescue forces ample cover to recover the downed aircrew. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Carpenter reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
#2 The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain P. Mason Carpenter for heroism while participating in Aerial Flight as an F-111F Aircraft Four-Ship Flight Lead at Tuz Khurmatu, Iraq, on 28 January 1991. On that date, Captain Carpenter was tasked with a short-notice, high-priority mission to attack the Tuz Khurmatu Airfield. Due west of Baghdad, Captain Carpenter received intense barrage antiaircraft artillery fire detonating at his altitude and was forced to threat react with limited fuel reserves. Seventy-five miles north of Baghdad, Captain Carpenter descended to his attack altitude of ten thousand feet and again
encountered intense aimed and barrage antiaircraft artillery fire. Avoiding the threats, he aggressively maneuvered away from his planned attack
axis, continued to the target
and released cluster munitions
perfectly in the center of the airfield’s main ramp, striking an IL-76 heavy transport aircraft. The attack on this airfield disrupted staging operations of Iraqi aircraft fleeing into Iran. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Carpenter reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
62 / DFCS News Magazine / WINTER 2018