F-16 Fighting Falcon News

November 4, 2008 (by SSgt. J.G. Buzanowski) - Four F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots were awarded the Mackay Trophy at the National Aeronautic Association Fall Awards Banquet in the nation's capital November 3.
The award honors the "most meritorious flight of the year" by an Air Force person, persons or organization.

This year's recipients were:

• Col. Charles L. Moore
• Lt. Col. Stephen C. Williams
• Capt. Lawrence T. Sullivan
• Capt. Kristopher W. Struve

The four-ship formation, flying under the call sign Panther 11, was on a mission out of Joint Base Balad, Iraq, August 12 and 13, 2007, when called upon to conduct air-to-ground strikes on 16 high-value targets in the Tora Bora region of Afghanistan. Striking entrenched locations enabled ground forces to move in safely to conduct raids on known Taliban positions.

Despite logistical issues that cropped up during the mission, Panther 11 was able to make it to the designated airspace. Within a two-minute window, the Airmen launched 15 GBU-38 500-pound laser-guided bombs on the targets.

This was the first time fighter aircraft stationed in Iraq were used to support an Operation Enduring Freedom mission, according to Colonel Williams.

And after 11 hours, 13 air refuelings, flying over six countries and drinking lots of water, the Panther 11 mission was deemed a success.

"There were so many other people involved in this mission and there's no way any of this would have happened without all the folks behind the scenes," said Colonel Williams. "Whether it was mission planning, or the maintenance crews who had to reconfigure the aircraft or the weapons teams who had to build and load the bombs, they're all a part of this too."

Colonel Williams added that the mission was just part of larger ground operation and was a great example of the flexibility of the Air Force and total cooperation among joint partners on the ground.

More than anything, he said he and his fellow Airmen are honored to receive the Mackay Trophy and have their names added to the list of aviators who have been won the award in the past, like Gen. Hap Arnold and Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager.

"I'll have grandkids who will be able to see this," Colonel Williams said. "It's a great legacy and extremely humbling. When you see the other names up there, and to be part of that group, it's just amazing.

"But at the end of the day, we're just four people getting the recognition, just like every other name up there," the colonel added. "This award honors all the folks who have ever made the mission happen."

The Mackay Trophy was first presented by Clarence Mackay in 1912 and is on display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. The trophy is administered by the United States Air Force and the National Aeronautic Association, a non-profit, membership organization devoted to fostering America's aerospace leadership and promoting public understanding of the importance of aviation and space flight to the country.