DFC is deserved in my opinion. B1-B pilot sitting there cold, plopped into the seat of a 737 he isn’t rated in and has never flown. Has no idea of the fuel, weather,,,nothing.
Lands it and saves 160 lives.
DFC doesn’t have to be combat related.
One of the worst things that’s happened with our awards system is that they are over inflating the standards to award for actual pilots and grunts. While Officers and politically approved groups in the military are festooned with decorations.
The Medal of Honor has become downright ridiculous. Half of the ones awarded in WWII Korea and Vietnam wouldn’t make the cut today.
Heroic behavior should be recognized properly. He was military man, and was heroic, and exhibited some distinguished flying, ergo,, DFC. That’s exactly the standards.
"Captain Mike Gongol, United States Air Force distinguished himself by saving 160 passengers,........bringing honor upon himself and the United States Air Force. "
My endorsement isn't worth anything, but a TSgt thinks the Capt did good, and needs and attaboy.
/johnny
Helping the First Officer land a perfectly good airplane in Omaha is exactly the same as keeping a flak damaged B-17 on the bomb run over Mainz. If you want the standards to be enforced, this might be a good place to start.
“Lands it and saves 160 lives.”
Actually, the airline pilot landed the plane.