Air Force
Air Force pilots receive prestigious award for strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities last year
Stars and Stripes
May 10, 2026
Members of the Shaw Air Force Base community gather to honor recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross during a ceremony at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, May 5, 2026. (Nyanda Walker-Potts/U.S. Air Force)
Six airmen received a prestigious military decoration for their roles in Operation Midnight Hammer, the mission that carried out a surprise strike on Iranian nuclear facilities last year.
The F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots, assigned to the 55th Fighter Squadron, received the Distinguished Flying Cross during a ceremony at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina on May 5, according to a service news release.
The award is one of the nation’s highest military decorations recognizing extraordinary heroism while in flight.
The pilots honored were Lt. Col. Christopher M. Beckett; Maj. Matthew J. Croghan; Maj. Alexander J. Trembly; Capt. Abigail D. Maio; Capt. Daniel J. Dodson; and Capt. Megan C. Langas.
U.S. Air Force Gen. Adrian Spain, commander of Air Combat Command, presents Lt. Col. Christopher M. Beckett, an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot and 55th Fighter Squadron commander, with the Distinguished Flying Cross during a ceremony at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., May 5, 2026. (Nyanda Walker-Potts/U.S. Air Force)
U.S. Air Force Gen. Adrian Spain, commander of Air Combat Command, presents Maj. Matthew J. Croghan, an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot assigned to the 55th Fighter Squadron, with the Distinguished Flying Cross during a ceremony at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., May 5, 2026. (Nyanda Walker-Potts/U.S. Air Force)
U.S. Air Force Gen. Adrian Spain, commander of Air Combat Command, presents Maj. Alexander J. Trembly, an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot assigned to the 55th Fighter Squadron, with the Distinguished Flying Cross during a ceremony at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., May 5, 2026. (Nyanda Walker-Potts/U.S. Air Force)
U.S. Air Force Gen. Adrian Spain, commander of Air Combat Command, presents Capt. Abigail D. Maio, an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot assigned to the 55th Fighter Squadron, with the Distinguished Flying Cross during a ceremony at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., May 5, 2026. (Nyanda Walker-Potts/U.S. Air Force)
U.S. Air Force Gen. Adrian Spain, commander of Air Combat Command, presents Capt. Megan C. Langas, an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot assigned to the 55th Fighter Squadron, with the Distinguished Flying Cross during a ceremony at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., May 5, 2026. (Nyanda Walker-Potts/U.S. Air Force)
“That mission reminded every adversary watching that American airpower can be delivered anywhere, anytime, and for better or worse, make it look easy. But we know it’s not easy,” said Gen. Adrian Spain, commander of Air Combat Command.
He said the success of Operation Midnight Hammer would not have been possible without them. The mission on June 21-22, 2025 involved high-risk flights into heavily defended airspace and direct combat with adversaries, the release said.
“These results don’t happen by accident,” Spain said. “It was a product of years of discipline, training and a refusal to accept anything less than excellence from themselves and from each other.”