31 Lieutenants Due Captaincy

Thirtyone lieutenants of the Portland Air Defense Sector will step up to the rank of captain on October 15. Eleven of the new captains are stationed at Adair AFS.
Adair Officers winning promotions are Eustace M. Bunn Jr., Buell Carruthers, Ray D. Davis, Gene J. Ehrichs, James H. Gilliland, Wayne M. Mashburn, Herschel S. Morgan, J. T. Stanley, Marshall N. White Jr., Donald R. Weidman and Melvin J. Drake.

Portland's 337th Fighter Group also had 11 on the promotion list.
They were Stravros E. Booras, Tommy M. Brown, Dennis M. Chase, Thomas E. Fallows, Owen J. Giblin, Harold P. Knepper, Gary G. Pearson, Bruce M. Purvine, Alban L. Weber, Angis N. McCauley and Glenn S. Warner.

363rd TRW Pilots Receive DFCs; Flew Missions Over North- Vietnam

Pilots, eight, of the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing this week received the Distinguished Flying Cross for outstanding heroism during unarmed reconnaissance flights over North Vietnam.

Maj. Gen. Marvin L. McNickle, Ninth Air Force commander, presented the medals to two majors and six captains, all of whom fly McDonnell RF-101 Voodoo reconnaissance aircraft.

Majors James B. Murphy, 39, of Gallup, N.M. and Max O. Taylor, 34, of Dublin, N.C. each received the Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster (equivalent to a second Distinguished Flying Cross).
Both officers succeeded in obtaining important reconnaissance photographs while flying over heavily defended hostile areas. On one such flight Major Murphy's aircraft was damaged by hostile ground fire over the first target, but he continued to a second target and was successful in both missions.

The six captains who received the Distinguished Flying Cross for similar flights were Eugene M. Adkins, 34, Albuquerque, N.M.; Roger E. Brockhoff, 30, Leesburg, Ind.; Joel R.. Campis, 31, Birmingham, Ala.; Gene J. Ehrichs, 34 Aspinwall, Iowa; Harold O. Polson, 33, Amorita, Okla. and Ronald C. Smith, 31, Syracuse, N.Y.
Captain Polson also completed a vital reconnaissance mission with outstanding results despite damage to his aircraft by hostile ground fire.
All the decorated officers are assigned to Shaw's 29th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron except Captain Ehrichs, who is now a member of the 9th TRS.

DFC WINNERS -- Eight officers of the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, who received the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism in flights over North Vietnam display their medals and certificates with Col. Victor N. Cabas, wing commander, and Lt. Col. Delbert J. Light, 29th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron commander (5th and 6th from left). Decorated by Maj. Gen. Marvin L. McNickle, Ninth Air Force commander were (left to right) Capt. Roger E. Brockhoff, Capt. Ronald C. Smith, Maj. Max O. Taylor, Maj. James B. Murphy, Capt. Joel R. Campis, Capt. Gene J. Ehrichs, Capt. Eugene M. Adkins and Capt. Harold O. Polson. (USAF PHOTO by TSgt. Robert J. Shiley)

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