Richard D. Creighton

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major Richard Daniel Creighton (AFSN: AO-767134), United States Air Force, for gallantry in action against an enemy as Commanding Officer, 336th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, FIFTH Air Force, on 16 October 1951. On that date, Major Creighton led a squadron of 16 F-86 planes on a combat aerial patrol in the Sinuiju-Yalu area in North Korea. Nearing minimum fuel, Major Creighton prepared to withdraw his forces from the area, when several formations of enemy MIG-15 jet aircraft were sighted on a southerly heading with obvious intent of attacking friendly fighter-bombers engaged in interdiction bombing below. At the same time another enemy formation was sighted on an interception course to engage Major Creighton’s forces. Although faced with a critical fuel problem and outnumbered 100 to 16, Major Creighton unhesitatingly turned his formation to engage the enemy below, fully realizing that by doing so he would expose himself to the enemy formation above. During the ensuing battle, which covered an area from Sinuiju 100 miles south the Pyongyang, Major Creighton’s brilliant tactics and repeated vicious assaults thoroughly disrupted the enemy. When fuel and ammunition reached an extremely critical point and the safety of the friendly fighter-bombers was insured, Major Creighton directed his forces to withdraw. Major Creighton’s squadron on this occasion destroyed four enemy MIG-15s and damaged three more. The conspicuous gallantry and inspiring leadership displayed by Major Creighton reflected great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Forces, and the United States Air Force.