34 Years Later, Task Force Normandy Recognized for Launching First Strikes of Gulf War

In a historic tribute to their valor, 15 Army pilots and weapons operators have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Crosses, more than three decades after they participated in the inaugural combat mission of Operation Desert Storm.

This long-awaited honor comes as many have long believed these individuals earned such accolades for their courageous service years ago.

During a ceremony held Thursday at an Army aviation convention in Nashville, Maj. Gen. Clair Gill honored the surviving members of Task Force Normandy. This group, consisting of eight Apache helicopters, executed a bold pre-dawn strike on Iraqi radar sites on January 17, 1991.

Accompanied by the Air Force MH-53J Pave In a strategic maneuver, helicopters outfitted with terrain-following radar successfully navigated undetected for a distance of 90 miles from a base in Saudi Arabia into Iraqi territory.

In the early hours of the morning at 2:30 a.m., a coordinated strike was executed involving a barrage of Hellfire missiles, rockets, and 30-mm cannon fire. This operation successfully targeted and destroyed two critical radar sites, thereby creating a strategic corridor for U.S. bombers to proceed.

The assault signified the formal commencement of the air operations in the Gulf War.

Currently, crews have only received Air Medals accompanied by "V" devices. Retired General Dick Cody, the former commander, dedicated years to advocating for increased recognition.

“Party in ten,” one pilot communicated just moments before the strike—phrasing that would soon enter the annals of military history.

Task Force Normandy, named to commemorate the significant contributions of the 101st Airborne Division during D-Day, played a crucial role in securing coalition air superiority in the initial stages of the conflict.

“This marks a truly significant moment for us, both as an Army and an Aviation branch,” stated Gill. “This marks a significant moment of acknowledgment for remarkable bravery.”

The mission's legacy remains a prominent illustration of the precision and courage demonstrated by joint forces operating under the cover of darkness.