Page 41 - DFCS NEWS MAGAZINE 2020-1

WALTER D. HUNTER
The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Walter D. Hunter, United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a Combat Strike Pilot in a T-28 fighter-bomber aircraft on 26 April 1964 over the Republic of Vietnam (RVN). On that date, at 0520 hours, Capt. Hunter took off as number two in a flight of four T-28 fighter- bombers from Soc Trang Airfield. The flight was scheduled to rendezvous with four C-123 cargo aircraft over the town of Vinh Loi in the Mekong Delta and proceed to the tip of the Ca Mau peninsula where they were to defoliate an area congested with a large number of Communist Viet Cong (VC)
insurgents. The weather from the rendezvous point to and including the target area was inclement with thunderstorms and ceilings varying from 300 feet to 2000 feet. Upon arrival over the target area, the fighters went into a tactical in-trail formation stair stepped from 300 feet to 1800 feet. Capt. Hunter was flying at 800 feet carrying a heavy load of napalm and rockets. Due to the inclement weather in the target area, the C-123s were forced to approach the entry point from an alternate route. As the C-123s were maneuvering into position they flew over the north edge of the DGZ. It was at this point that the VC gunners opened up. Capt. Hunter called the location of the heavy anti-aircraft guns out and directed the C-123s to break left. He instantly recognized the aircraft trap that the VC had set up using three well-emplaced .50 caliber heavy machine guns. Realizing the surprise tactics of the enemy ground forces and the vulnerability of the second two C-123 aircraft in getting away, he dove his aircraft immediately toward the closest gun emplacement to draw attention away from large, slow moving C-123s. Because of his close proximity to the target and not having enough altitude to attain maximum airspeed, he dove to less than 30 feet altitude and pressed the attack head-on, guns blazing, to distract the enemy gunners. He delivered one 500 pound can of napalm directly on target instantly, neutralizing one AAA gun. Capt. Hunter’s aircraft sustained hits by enemy guns on this first pass; however, due to the vulnerability of enemy guns on climb out, he remained low, circled left and returned for a second hazardous pass. Again, Capt. Hunter subjected himself to intense enemy ground fire, yet he pressed on and delivered the remaining napalm bomb directly on another gun emplacement. While the second element of T-28s silenced the remaining AAA gun, Capt. Hunter returned with his leader to escort the C-123 flight back into the target area. The defoliation mission went as planned from the now burned out entry point until the C-123s reached the last 500 yards of their run. It was at this point that the diligence, perseverance and heroism of Capt. Hunter far exceeded those expected of an air crew member. The unexpected happened, for the VC had set up AAA traps at both ends of the canal, not knowing which way the C-123s would be coming in from. The lead C-123 immediately became the target of intense hostile ground fire. Capt. Hunter, realizing the situation, called to the lead C-123 to break right immediately. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, Capt. Hunter dove his aircraft and placed himself between the enemy guns and the now crippled C-123. In doing so, he was to absorb the brunt of the intense ground fire. His aircraft was struck repeatedly in the vicinity of the left wing. His thoughts were to save the lives of the crew members in the C-123, even at the risk of his own life. The C-123 sustained major battle damage and was forced to make an emergency landing at the nearest friendly airfield. As a result of Capt. Hunter’s heroic action, the C-123s were able to achieve a successful defoliation mission and recover all aircraft. Only through Capt. Hunter’s quick thinking and superb and professional skill in airmanship was he able to return with his badly damaged aircraft and effect a safe landing at Soc Trang. It was discovered after landing that the damage was serious enough to require a major wing change to his aircraft. On this mission Capt. Hunter is credited with two .50 caliber heavy machine guns destroyed and an unknown number of VC insurgents killed in action. The heroism and combat instincts displayed by Capt. Hunter in destroying two hostile AAA heavy machine gun positions ranks extremely high in this theater. In addition, his heroic action, coupled with his desire for absolute mission accomplishment, undoubtedly saved the lives of the C-123 crew and has contributed greatly to the furtherance of United States National Policy in Southeast Asia by helping the Republic of Vietnam in its fight against the Communist Viet Cong insurgents. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Capt. Hunter reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
SUMMER 2020 / DFCS News Magazine / 41