VaANG pilots awarded Distinguished Flying Cross
Two pilots assigned to the 149th Fighter Squadron, 192nd Wing, and four from the 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Wing, were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, for actions while deployed in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, during a ceremony at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, Aug. 31, 2026.
U.S. Air Force Gen. Adrian Spain, commander of Air Combat Command, presided over the ceremony and presented the decorations to the recipients, recognizing their courage, skill and airmanship that earned them one of the nation’s highest honors, the Distinguished Flying Cross.
“We haven’t awarded many of these in the last few decades, as it’s intended to recognize true heroism and highly exceptional accomplishment in flight which means that it should be rare and it is,” said Spain. “While the Distinguished Flying Cross recognizes individual heroism and extraordinary achievement in the cockpit, the success of this complex mission belongs to an entire enterprise,” said Col. Andrew Weidner, commander of the 192nd Wing. “Behind every decision made in flight stood an incredible total force team of maintainers, intelligence
specialists, planners, and mission support personnel—as well as the unwavering support of our families back home who make our service possible.”
Spain also recognized the Airmen, families and teammates whose support contributed to the recipients’ success
The Distinguished Flying Cross is awarded to any officer or enlisted person of the Armed Forces of the United States for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. Both heroism and achievement must be entirely distinctive, involving operations that are not routine.