Photo By Staff Sgt. Natalie Filzen | U.S. Air Force Gen. Steven Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau, awards three...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md.– U.S. Air Force Gen. Steven Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau, awarded three F-16 pilots from the 121st Fighter Squadron, District of Columbia Air National Guard, the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross with “C” device for combat in a ceremony on Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, Feb, 1, 2026. The awards recognize actions by Majs. Benjamin “Boom” Saunders, Eric “Fume” Anderson and Capt. Ryan “Hammer” Boodee on April 13, 2024 while deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia.
“When I read about the accomplishments of Viper 5-1 and 6-1, ‘air superiority’ comes to mind,” said Nordhaus. “Elite and lethal.”
In early 2024, the pilots and 12 F-16s were deployed as part of the 121st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, attached to the U.S. Central Command’s 357th Air Expeditionary Wing in support of Operations Inherent Resolve and Prosperity Guardian. On April 13, Saunders and Boodee were flying as Viper 5-1, with Anderson and his wingman as Viper 6-1, conducting a defensive counter-air operation in anticipation of an Iranian attack. Iran launched a large-scale, unprecedented retaliatory attack consisting of one-way aerial attack drones, cruise and ballistic missiles against Israel.
Nordhaus said in his remarks that the award recipients faced a massive drone attack while operating outside reliable radio contact and command-and-control, forcing them to execute mission command. When over 300 Iranian drones approached Israel, the service members deployed in the area countered the threat, expending their aircraft missiles and utilizing their 20mm cannons.
“On that night they placed themselves in significant danger when flying as Viper 5-1 and Viper 6-1,” the award citation reads.
Viper 5-1 flew searching for aerial targets with the aid of night vision goggles until they ran low on fuel. While flying to meet a tanker for aerial refueling, Saunders detected a low-flying drone and downed it with a missile, making it the first drone downed by coalition forces that night. Bodee continued to scan for threats until Saunders returned from refueling. He then detected the frontmost traces of more than 100 additional attacking drones. Both F-16s in Viper 5-1 flight fired missiles at the drones until Viper 6-1 arrived. Saunders coordinated targeting of the drones and Viper 5-1 continued firing missiles until none remained.
At that point, Saunders used his aircraft’s 20mm cannon in a low-altitude attack to down a drone. Viper 5-1continued to coordinate targeting and refueling for both flights during the continuing defensive actions, shooting down 15 Iranian drones and detecting others for coalition forces to address.
“I could not be prouder of ‘Boom’, ‘Fume’ and ‘Hammer’, the 113th Wing, and the 121st Fighter Squadron,” said Nordhaus. You represent the best of the National Guard, and you join the legacy of excellence in the National Guard.”
The Distinguished Flying Cross is the oldest U.S. military award for aviation, established in 1926 for exhibiting “heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight” in service with the Army, Navy, or Air Force.
| Date Taken: | 12.31.1969 |
| Date Posted: | 02.03.2026 14:54 |
| Story ID: | 557345 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 23 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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