William C. Norris

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to William C. Norris, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force while serving as an F- 105 Pilot with the 333d Tactical Fighter Squadron, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, Takhli Royal Thai Air Base, SEVENTH Air Force, in action over North Vietnam on 12 August 1967. On that date, Colonel Norris led a strike force of twenty F-105 aircraft against a key installation in the North Vietnamese supply line. Skillfully evading surface-to-air missile launches, he positioned his force for the bomb run. Four MiG-17’s engaged his flight from the rear. Colonel Norris turned toward the MiGs, drew them away from his attack force, eluded them, and returned to successfully attack the target. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of hostile forces, Lieutenant Colonel Norris reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.