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Double Treat

Oct. 31, 2007

An F-16 pilot with the 510th Fighter Squadron at Aviano AB, Italy, received a Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions in providing close air support to ground forces in Iraq, and his father pinned on the medal. Maj. Gen. Michael Collings pinned the DFC on his son Capt. George Collings during a ceremony Oct. 29, reports TSgt Michael O’Connor. In Iraq in January, the younger Collings scrambled to lead a CAS to support coalition ground forces that were pinned down by enemy fire when they attempted to reach a downed AH-64 Apache helicopter. He located the friendly forces and dropped a 500-pound laser-guided bomb, taking out six enemy forces, stopping 30 others, and enabling the coalition ground forces to take control.

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