Michael C. Francisco

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Michael C. Francisco, Captain, U.S. Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as an F-4E Aircraft Commander in Southeast Asia on 6 April 1972. On that date, Captain Francisco entered North Vietnam on four separate occasions to lead F-4 fighter-bombers against surface-to-air missile sites threatening air operations in South Vietnam. With complete disregard for his own personal safety and in the face of extremely heavy antiaircraft fire and hostile surface-to-air missiles, Captain Francisco repeatedly descended to dangerously low altitudes to insure the destruction of two missile sites in North Vietnam. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, Captain Francisco reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.