During Operation Midnight Hammer in June 2025, US Air Force F-16 fighter jets cleared the way for the B-2 bombers that struck Iran's nuclear facilities. The fighters flew hundreds of miles into Iranian territory, knocked out hostile air defenses, and flew out with very little fuel left in the tank, award citations reveal.Earlier this month, the Air Force awarded six F-16 pilots from the 55th Fighter Squadron the Distinguished Flying Cross for their part in the operation, with special designations for service in combat. The award is bestowed for heroism or extraordinary achievement in flight.Award citations provided by the Air Force to Business Insider spotlight these aviators, who flew nearly 300 miles into defended Iranian airspace in non-stealth jets, grappled with high-risk fuel challenges during the mission, and returned home."It's rare that we get a chance to take a peek into the kinds of decisions that these aviators have to make and the ramifications of getting it wrong," said retired F-16 pilot and former Navy TOPGUN instructor Vincent Aiello, referring to the award documents and the precarious situations the pilots faced.During the operation, which unfolded nearly eight months before the more recent Operation Epic Fury, the six fighter pilots were tasked with executing an offensive counter-air and suppression of enemy air defenses mission to help the stealth B-2 Spirit bombers carrying 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators reach their targeted destinations, specifically Iranian nuclear facilities.