Capt. Nathanial Welch, callsign “Icarus,” received the Air Force’s Distinguished Flying Cross on July 1 for actions on April 29, 2025 during a joint U.S.–British strike against Houthi militants in Yemen.
Welch flew an F‑16 with the 480th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron out of Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia. While penetrating heavily defended airspace, three enemy missiles locked onto his aircraft. He maneuvered to evade each missile, stayed on station despite explosions a few hundred feet away, and warned the formation, shielding other coalition aircraft from the threat.
The squadron, a “Wild Weasel” unit, was part of Operation Rough Rider, targeting Houthi command sites and drone‑manufacturing facilities south of Sana’a. Welch joins fellow squadron members who have earned high honors, including two Silver Stars and additional DFCs. He now serves as chief of plans and programs for the 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, overseeing patrols of the Alaskan ADIZ.
