MOHs: With absolutely NO disrespect to the heroes that have gone before, very few (if any) of the WWII MOHs awarded to Naval Aviators would have been approved in today's environment. Their environment..and our Navy and nation...were in a different time...which yielded different standards.
Exactly, the environment, media interest (impact of the 'feat' at home), political importance of target etc., all come into play for number/level of awards.
Example: Our Airwing (CVW-14) was involved in a massive interservice coordinated strike on the Hanoi & Haiphong oil storage areas on 29 June '66. Tremendous press interest because these targets had been 'off limits' since the git go. Also unique because of it's size & timing. CVW-15 (CONNIE) Alpha on Do Son POLs, CVW-14 (RANGER) Alpha on Haiphong POLs, & USAF mass gaggle F-105 & F-4s on the Hanoi POLs, timed for simultaneous
THUMP!
Long story short, tremendous success...major damage to all oil storage areas with only 2 F-105s downed, all Navy birds made it 'bock sheep'. Our strike leader (CAG-14), circled target throughout, directing traffic, comm relay & BDA... Navy Cross, 2 bombing element leaders... SSs, every other participant DFCs. Huge press coverage back home , including a large color photo in Life magazine of a 19-shot 2.75" rocket pod torching off a huge petrol storage tank at Haiphong, from a mopix nose camera on a VA-55 A-4E.
The environment, circumstances & timing make all the difference! (I was orig. briefed & launched as CAGs section leader on this strike launch 4 days earlier, but airborne & rendezvousing, strike CX due poor WX Red River valley. Our 8 A-4s were diverted to RESCAP cover a downed A-6...where I was downed, and another squadronmate took my place on the 29th strike.
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