AMONG THE BRAVE
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM MAJOR WILLIAM ROBINSON
AIR FORCE CROSS
“The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the AIR FORCE CROSS to WILLIAM P. ROBINSON, MAJOR, U.S. AIR FORCE, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force near Hanoi, North Vietnam, on 5 July 1966. On that date, MAJOR ROBINSON, piloting a specially equipped F-105 Thunderchief, led a flight against hostile SA-2 surface-to-air missile sites which threatened other strike aircraft tasked to destroy a high priority target. With complete disregard for his personal safety, MAJOR ROBINSON responded professionally in the face of continuous heavy and intense ground fire of all types and attacked four separate missile complexes. Three of the four sites were completely destroyed, and the remaining site sustained extensive damage. This courageous and aggressive action considerably reduced the missile threat against the other strike force. through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of hostile forces, MAJOR ROBINSON reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.”
