AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED-FLYING CROSS--By direction of the President, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved 2 July 1926 (Bull 8, WD, 1926), and pursuant to authority delegated by Headquarters United States Army Strategic Air Forces in classified letter, file 323, subject: “Delineation of Administrative Responsibilities", dated 16 July 1945, announcement is made of, the award of the Distinguished-Flying Cross to the following named officers and enlisted men of the 61st Bombardment Squadron, 39th Bombardment Group.

For extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight over Tokyo, Japan, 24 May 1945. These individuals formed the combat crew of a B-29 aircraft assigned to a night incendiary strike from a based in the Marianas against the urban area of the Japanese capitol city. Displaying the utmost coolness, courage, and skill, they brought their plane to the target through weather conditions of unusual adversity, enemy fighter attacks, and continuously pointed heavy anti-aircraft fire that reached the proportions of a barrage over the target, augmented by searchlights and parachute flares. In spite of this savage opposition, this crew unswervingly held to the assigned course, and bombed the target, with withdrawing from the area through a storm of flak. The superior airmanship and skill, as well as outstanding courage and coolness displayed by these veterans of repeated assaults against the Japan Homeland on this occasion materially aided to the mission which contributed to the successful prosecution of the war, and reflecting great credit on themselves and Army Air Forces.

Captain GORDON ANDERSON, 0663453, (then First Lieutenant), Air Corps, United States Army, Airplane Commander.

First Lieutenant MILTON T CUMMINGS, 0785383, (then Second Lieutenant), Air Corps, United States Army as Bombardier.

First Lieutenant JOHN C DAHL, JR, 02064228, (then Second Lieutenant), Air Corps, United States Army, as Navigator.

First Lieutenant JOHN F SMITH, 0869169, (then Second Lieutenant), Air Corps, United States Army, as Flight Engineer.

Technical Sergeant CLAYTON B WALL, 0869169, (then Staff Sergeant), Air Corps, United States Army, as Central Fire Control Gunner.

Staff Sergeant ROBERT W. DAVIS, 36445187, (then Sergeant), Air Corps, United States Army, as Radio Operator.

Staff Sergeant JOHN P MILLER, 16002568, (then Sergeant), Air Corps, United States Army, as Right Gunner.

Staff Sergeant RICHARD B VOGENITZ, 34793919, (then Sergeant), Air Corps, United States Army, as Left Gunner.

Sergeant JOHN E GERBIG, 33899543, Air Corps, United States Army, as Tail Gunner.