By virtue of the power delegated to me, I take pleasure in awarding in the name of the President of the United States, the Distinguished Flying Cross to:

LIEUTENANT NORMAN L.PAXTON, U.S. NAVAL RESERVE 

CITATION

For distinguishing himself by extraordinary heroism in aerial flight. Lieutenant Paxton, on the nights of 5 January, 16 January and 4 February 1944, while in command of a Catalina aircraft on patrol in the vicinity of strongly fort ified enemy bases in the Bismarck Sea, made three separate attacks on heavily armed vessels, including one destroyer, in each case against heavy odds. He faced formidable handicaps of unfavorable weather conditions and intense and accurate enemy fire from warships, merchant vessels and aircraft, to press home his attacks without hesitation or regard for his own personal safety. In spite of severe damage to his aircraft he persevered in his determination to come to grips with the enemy and destroy him. His outstanding courage and coolness under fire, and his gallant conduct in action against the enemy, were in keeping with the finest traditions of the Navy of the United-States.

T. C . KINKAID
Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy
Commander Seventh Fleet

By virtue of the power delegated to me, I take pleasure in awarding in the name of the President of the United States, the Gold Star in lieu of second Distinguished Flying Cross to:

LIEUTENANT NORMAN L. PAXTON, U.S. NAVAL RESERVE CITATION 

For distinguishing himself by heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. On the nights of 4 August and 30 August 1944, as patrol plane commander of a PBY-5 aircraft on night combat patrol of the Netherlands East Indies, he entered the strong enemy base at Ambon and attacked four cargo vessels, destroying a medium freighter-transport, sinking one small tanker, and damaging two others. On these occasions he displayed courage and aggressiveness in pressing home repeated bombing and strafing attacks and a high degree of professional ability in keeping with the highest traditions o f the United States Navy.
 
 
 

T.C. KINKAID
Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy,
Commander Seventh Fleet.
Classified Citation. 

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the 
PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to 

PATROL SQUADRON THIRTY-FOUR 

for service as set forth in the following 

CITATION:

"For outstanding performance above the normal call of duty while engaged in Search Missions and Anti-Shipping attacks in the enemy Japanese-controlled Area of the Bismarck Sea from September 15, 1943, to February 1, 1944. Rendering pioneer service in changing the passive, defensive search into a bold and powerful offensive, Patrol Squadron THIRTY-FOUR has utilized the full potentialities of the PBY-5 seaplane and its equipment, locating enemy task force units and striking dangerously by night in devastating masthead, glide-bombing attacks to insure vital hits on the target. Dauntless and aggressive in the fulfillment of each assignment, the gallant pilots of Squadron THIRTY-FOUR conducted daring, lone patrols regardless of weather in a continuous coverage of this area, intercepting and attacking so effectively as to inflict substantial damage on hostile combat and other shipping, to deny the enemy the sea route between New Ireland and New Britain Islands and thus prevent the reenforcing of important Japanese bases. The splendid record of this combat group is a tribute to the courageous fighting spirit of its officers and men and reflects the highest credit upon the United States Naval Service."

For the President,
 

James Forrestal
Secretary of the Navy