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Tuesday, 21 June 2011 |
 6/21/2011 - ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- The United States Air Force and the National Aeronautic Association recently announced four Airmen from the 48th Fighter Wing are the recipients of the 2010 Mackay Trophy.
Lt. Cols. Donald Cornwell and Dylan Wells and Capts. Leigh Larkin and Nicholas Tsougas are to receive the annual award for the most meritorious Air Force flight that demonstrated gallantry, intrepidity, initiative, resourcefulness and achievement of outstanding results in combat or non-combat conditions.
"It's a great honor to receive a prestigious award like this," said Captain Tsougas. "It's an even greater honor knowing that we helped our ground forces in an important battle."
The Airmen distinguished themselves by meritorious airmanship April 6, 2010.
While operating as a flight of two F-15E Strike Eagles, call signs Dude 01 and Dude 02, they were tasked to support a combined joint special operations task force team surrounded by more than 100 enemy fighters in the town of Bala Morgab, Afghanistan.
With weather below rescue force launch minimums, Dude Flight used Terrain Following Radar to execute five "show of force" passes in a valley surrounded by high terrain. When hostilities escalated, Dude Flight expertly employed six Joint Direct Attack Munitions, helping kill more than 80 insurgents who occupied reinforced positions within the town. Their efforts helped save the lives of approximately 30 coalition troops. There were no civilian causalities.
"While this award has singled out four of our Airmen, I also want to congratulate everyone in the wing. Many of you were deployed to Bagram [Air Base] and played a central role in this flight," said Col. John Quintas, 48th Fighter Wing commander. "Without each of you, this team would not have accomplished their mission."
The officers will be recognized at the NAA Fall Awards Banquet on Nov. 7, 2011, in Arlington, Va.
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