The Airmen successfully destroyed over 80 drones and six ballistic missiles, with coalition forces intercepting 99% of the more than 300 inbound threats from Iran.

Airmen from the 4th Fighter Wing were honored with high-level decorations for their rapid response during an Iranian drone attack on March 28, 2025.

The awards ceremony took place at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina, where Gen. Ken Wilsbach, commander of Air Combat Command, presented the honors.

The ceremony recognized individual contributions, including the Distinguished Flying Cross for several pilots, the Bronze Star for Master Sgt. Luke Howell, and Commendation Medals for multiple personnel.

The personnel from the 335th Fighter Squadron and 335th Fighter Generation Squadron had been deployed to support U.S. Central Command in April 2024 and responded swiftly to an attack on Israel.

Shortly after their arrival, Iran launched drones and ballistic missiles at Israel from both Iran and Yemen, prompting a rapid defensive action from the deployed Airmen and coalition forces.

Lt. Col. Madison Gilbert reported that the team reconfigured six F-15E Strike Eagles from non-combat to battle-ready status in a matter of hours.

Capt. Greg Liquori led the engagement in the air, firing the first missile at a target during the conflict.

Within 45 minutes of the engagement, the formation had expended all their munitions but quickly rearmed to return to action.

Col. Morgan P. Lohse emphasized the importance of teamwork across various roles in the operation's success, especially given the limited preparation time.

This reconfiguration involved significant modifications, including removing large sections of the aircraft to add munitions, showcasing the team's expertise and teamwork under pressure.