Lt. Col. William “Skate” Parks, an Air Pressure F-16 commander who intentionally flew into one of the closely defended air-defense zones within the Center East and dodged enemy missiles for quarter-hour whilst dangerously low on gas, has been awarded the Silver Celebrity, one of the vital country’s very best honors for valor in battle.
Parks gained the medal right through a Pentagon rite Nov. 26. In step with an professional Air Pressure unencumber, his movements right through a high-risk project in early 2025 now not most effective crippled enemy ballistic missile manufacturing amenities, however stored the lives of his wingman and most probably averted the lack of two American plane.
On the time, Parks was once the commander of the 480th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and served as project commander for a 21-aircraft strike package deal March 27.
Parks concurrently led a four-ship of F-16 Combating Falcons tasked with Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses, or SEAD, the project accountable for drawing enemy fireplace and clearing a trail for the remainder of the power.
“Parks deliberately positioned himself in danger vary of a fancy air protection zone protective the enemy’s capital,” the Air Pressure mentioned. His determination, the quotation states, was once key to “crippling enemy ballistic missile manufacturing amenities.”
It additionally positioned his formation squarely within the crosshairs. Enemy forces fired a “barrage of exactly centered” missiles and anti-aircraft fireplace on the F-16s, triggering a 15-minute series of violent high-G maneuvers and countermeasures.
“For quarter-hour, with enemy missiles detonating mere toes from his plane, Parks led his flight thru a chain of high-G maneuvers and countermeasure employment,” the quotation states.
The chance didn’t finish as soon as the barrage stopped. Parks was once nonetheless deep in enemy territory and underneath minimal gas ranges, in line with the Air Pressure. He temporarily coordinated an emergency rendezvous with two separate tankers to stay the jets airborne lengthy sufficient to achieve protection, a transfer the carrier mentioned most probably averted the lack of two plane.
The quotation concludes that Parks’ “brave and steadfast movements without delay contributed to the survival of his wingman and himself.”
Gen. Ken Wilsbach, Air Pressure leader of body of workers, who offered the Silver Celebrity, wired the rarity of the consideration.
“It’s an extraordinary day when somebody earns a Silver Celebrity, with lower than 100 being earned right through the Air Pressure technology,” Wilsbach mentioned. “After listening to Skate’s tale, his management, decisive motion and ability within the face of risk, I completely imagine he merits this honor.”
Prior to Parks’ rite, most effective 96 Silver Stars have been awarded to Division of the Air Pressure body of workers. Parks additionally gained the Bronze Celebrity Medal right through the development.
The March project passed off right through an eight-month deployment wherein Parks and the 480th EFS supported Operations Prosperity Parent, Inherent Unravel, Spartan Protect and Tough Rider. The operations involved in countering Iranian-backed militants and adverse drone and missile threats around the area.
All through that deployment, the squadron recorded 108 aerial victories in opposition to enemy drones and land-attack cruise missiles, a contemporary Air Pressure file, in line with professional releases.
Parks is credited with pioneering cost-saving ways that used AGR-20F rockets, historically air-to-ground guns, in an air-to-air position and prioritized older AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles over more moderen AIM-9X variants. The ones selections stored greater than $25 million and resulted within the first AIM-9M air-to-air kill in 30 years.
Six of the squadron’s 108 shootdowns safe the plane service USS Harry S. Truman and its team of greater than 5,000 sailors.
Parks “for my part defended in opposition to 5 fatal surface-to-air missile engagements concentrated on his plane,” the Air Pressure mentioned.
Talking on the rite, Parks described the emotional whiplash of the project from the instant he discovered how by myself he was once over adverse territory to the relaxation of listening to pleasant voices at the radio as he escaped the danger ring.
“The loneliness settles in … after which that transitioned in no time to elation,” he mentioned. As I were given a bit of bit nearer, the [command and control] businesses and the Air Pressure group began selecting me up, and my requests of ‘Whats up, I would like lend a hand! We’re out of gasoline. I would like tankers moved.”
Parks mentioned the award carries particular that means on account of his circle of relatives’s deep aviation legacy, which spans International Struggle II, Vietnam and a couple of generations of Air Pressure carrier.
“It’s unbelievable, and this implies so much,” he mentioned. “The volume of aviation and the whole lot that we’ve got in our circle of relatives, that’s what formed me and helped mildew me.”
