Foil: 6 Panel: Distinguished Flying Cross Society Column: 3 Line: 63

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

James R. Patterson was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses while serving as a Forward Air Controller stationed at Da Nang AB, Vietnam.

The first was for action over the Special Forces Camp at Thuong Due approximately 25 miles southwest of Da Nang. During the night of October 3,1968, Major Patterson was called to assist in repelling a large attacking force of enemy troops positioned around and close to the perimeter of the camp. Although rugged terrain and adverse night weather restricted maneuverability of the limited airpower at his disposal, Major Patterson quickly and effectively directed these resources on four separate targets that resulted in thwarting the attack against the camp. Word from the senior American advisor on the ground was that Major Patterson's quick action appeared to have prevented the camp from being overrun.

The second was awarded for providing continued close air support to friendly troops near Quang Hue (again near Da Nang) on January 14, 1969. While being continuously fired upon by aggressor forces during this mission, Major Patterson heroically flew his unarmed aircraft at extremely low altitude to draw fire away from a desperately needed helicopter evacuation of a seriously wounded American advisor. Major Patterson remained on station until the "dustoff" was successfully completed and the remainder of the aggressor force was dispersed.

Over the next nine years LTC Patterson served in various R&D assignment at Hqs USAF, Hqs AFSC and Aeronatuical Systems Division, WPAFB, Ohio. Each program was on the cutting edge of the precise weapons delivery and guidance systems that are now commonplace in the Air Force today. Immediatley after retirment from the Air Force in 1978 LTC Patterson joined the management team at Lockheed Missiles and Space Company where he remained until his retirement in 1995.