Page 65 - DFCS NEWS MAGAZINE 2020-1

RAYMOND J. NORTON
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Raymond J. Norton, United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 263, Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the afternoon of 5 September, 1970, First Lieutenant Norton was Section Leader of a flight of two CH-46 transport helicopters assigned the mission of evacuating a seriously wounded Marine from a unit which was heavily engaged in combat with a hostile force in a densely-
jungled area of the Que Son Mountains in Quang Nam Province. Arriving over the designated area, he found that the friendly unit, located under a jungle canopy on the western slope of a deep ravine, was under such intense automatic weapons and small arms fire from enemy positions on the eastern slope of the ravine, that two earlier transports were forcedtoabortextractionattempts. Undauntedbytheextremelyheavyvolumeofhostilefiredirectedathisaircraft,First Lieutenant Norton boldly maneuvered his helicopter into the ravine and established a hover above the beleaguered Marines. Although enemy rounds had severed communication lines between the cabin and the cockpit, ruptured the fuel line in the compartment of one of the engines and wounded his crewmen, he fearlessly held his precarious position until informed that the ground unit was unable to attach the wounded Marine to the jungle penetrator and that fuel was draining from the engine compartment. Reacting instantly, First Lieutenant Norton lifted out of the area to gain as much altitudeandairspeedpossible. Atanaltitudeoffifteenhundredfeet,allpowerinthetransport’snumbertwoenginewas lost and shortly thereafter, the number one engine began losing power and then flamed out. With exceptional skill, First Lieutenant Norton executed a full autorotation to a landing in a rice paddy, where he established a defensive perimeter until rescued by his wingman’s aircraft. First Lieutenant Norton’s courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
SUMMER 2020 / DFCS News Magazine / 65