1998
Capt. Erik Pettyjohn
Capt. Erik Pettyjohn was selected by Lockheed Martin to receive the 1998 Joe Bill Dryden Semper Viper Award for his heroic actions in operation Northern Watch. During a suppression of enemy air defense mission over northern Iraq, Pettyjohn's aircraft experienced a catastrophic engine failure. After expertly flying his crippled aircraft for more than 120 miles over enemy territory, he executed a flawless flameout landing without the aid of arresting gear. The landing site, a short-runway civilian airport, was located in mountainous terrain at an altitude of over 5,000 feet. In the words of Col. Charlie Lyon, 22nd FW commander, "The safe conclusion of this emergency situation can be summed up in five words: professionalism, teamwork, training, mission, and readiness. Without these five key ingredients, this story would have ended differently."
Award Winner Details:
1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002
