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 persuant to authority delegated by Headquaters United States Army Strategic Air Forces in letter, file AG 323; subject: "Ddefinitions of Administrative Responsibilities", dated 6 August 1945, announcement is made of the award of the Distinguished-Flying-Cross to the following named officers and enlisted men of the 62nd Bombardment Squadron, 39th Bombardment Group.

        For extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight 22 June 1945. These individuals were members of the combat crew of a B-29 aircraft which lead an entire bombardment squadron in the devastating medium altitude, daylight strike from a base in the Marianas against the important Mitsubishi aircraft plant at Tamashima, Japan. Fron the intial point to the target area, they were subjected to continuously pointed, heavy calber flak and vicious and agressive attacks by fighter planes, some of which dropped phosphorus bombs. Despite these difficulties, this crew, with cool courage and outstanding skill, maintained their plane exactly on the briefed heading to the target without evasive tactics. At the target, where defenses were most highly concentrated, they dropped their bombs with such accuracy that one hundred percent of them fell squarely on the target with devastating effects. Synchronizing with the lead plane, the remaining aircraft in the formation also dropped all of their bombs on the objective. Later reconnaissance photographs revealed that, as a result of this mission, eighty-five percent of this new and vital aircraft plant was destroyed. The courage and fortitude displayed by these veteran of repeated assults against the Japanese homeland reflect great credit on themselves and the Army Air Forces.

Captain PATRICK J MARTIN, Air Corps, United States Army, as Airplane Commander.

First Lieutenant HENRY R. DONNELLY, Air Corps, United States Army, as Pilot.

First Lieutenant CHARLES A. FERGUSON, (then Second Lieutenant), Air Corps, United States Army, as Navigator.

First Lieutenant KENDALL P. SMITH, (then Second Lieutenant), Air Corps, United States Army, as Bombardier.

First Lieutenant JOHN A. WANDS, (then Second Lieutenant), Air Corps, United States Army, as Radar Observer.

First Lieutenant GEORGE W. BURNELL, Air Corps, United States Army, as Flight Engineer.

Staff Sergeant ROBERT R. MALINGSKI, Air Corps, United States Army, as Radio Operator.

Technical Sergeant WILLIAM J. WALLACE, (then Sergeant), Air Corps, United States Army, as Central Fire Control Gunner.

Staff Sergeant EDWARD G. FOX, Air Corps, United States Army, as Left Gunner.

Staff Sergeant MARION D. FOSTER, (then Sergeant), Air Corps, United States Army, as Tail Gunner.