Distinguished Flying Crosses awarded to Dyess B-1 crew

From left, U.S. Air Force Gen. Robin Rand, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, awarded Distinguished Flying Cross medals Friday to four airmen: Maj. Christopher N. Duhon, Capt. Matthew Leroy Sutton, 1st Lt. Joseph Welch, and 1st Lt. Thomas C. Ahearn.

 

Distinguished Flying Crosses were presented Friday at Dyess AFB to the crew of a B-1 Lancer which experienced an in-flight emergency in May.

Gen. Robin Rand, Air Force Global Strike Command commander, presented the medals to:

  • Major Christopher N. Duhon, Air Forces Strategic-Operations Division chief of future operations at, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, and an instructor pilot with duties at the 28th Bomb Squadron;
  • Capt. Matthew Sutton, 28th Bomb Squad weapons system officer instructor;
  • 1st Lt. Joseph Welch, 28th Bomb Squad student pilot;
  • 1st Lt. Thomas C. Ahearn, then 28th Bomb Squad student weapons system officer who has since completed training and is currently assigned to the 37th Bomb Squad, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota.

“Our background is rooted and grounded in blood, sweat and tears. All of us who wear uniforms, we don’t have to look very far to find heroes who have been in our past,” Rand is quoted as saying in a press release from Dyess Monday. “It’s our heritage; it’s where we came from.”

The Distinguished Flying Cross is awarded for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. 

“Thank you for showing us how to be extraordinary. Thank you for your service. Thank you for your sacrifice. I have never been prouder to wear this uniform than I am today because of you four,” Rand told the four airmen.

During a routine training flight May 1, the B-1 indicated fire warnings in three areas of the aircraft, according to the Dyess news release. With fire visually confirmed by the aircrew, they took appropriate flight procedures to extinguish the flames. One fire indicator light remained, which prompted the aircraft commander to heed technical orders.

According to military.com, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said last month that the B-1 made the emergency landing when an ejector seat didn't work.

Speaking at the Defense Communities summit in Washington, D.C., Wilson said a fire was indicated and the crew went through the checklist of what to do.

"They go through their checklist of everything they're supposed to do. The next thing on the checklist is to eject ... they start the ejection sequence," the website quoted Wilson as saying.

Only "the cover comes off, and nothing else happens," she said, referring to the weapons systems officer's ejection hatch, the website reported. "The seat doesn't fire. Within two seconds of knowing that that had happened, the aircraft commander says, 'Cease ejection, we'll try to land.'"

Despite auditory warning systems and depressurization, the aircrew safely landed at the Midland International Air and Space Port, the Dyess release said, adding this was the first-ever successful landing of a B-1 experiencing these malfunctions.

"I am extremely proud of these four individuals who exemplified excellence in an uncertain and potentially fatal situation,” said Col. Brandon Parker, 7th Bomb Wing commander. “It's humbling for me as a leader to be reminded of the caliber of Airmen with whom I have the privilege to serve. These accomplishments reflect the very best of who we are as a nation and service."

B-1s were grounded for two weeks in June. Once they were cleared for flight operations, the Air Force released a statement  from Major Gen. Thomas Bussiere, 8th Air Force commander, stating, “We have high confidence that the fleet’s egress systems are capable and the fleet is ready to return to normal flight operations.”