Distinguished Flying Cross

Awarded for actions during the World War II

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Aviation Machinist's Mate Lewis McKinley Thompson, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement in the line of his profession, displayed on 9 March 1942, while participating in aerial flights as a Naval Aviation Pilot of U.S. Navy Patrol Plane, at sea near San Juan, Puerto Rico. Aviation Machinist's Mate Thompson handled the engine throttles skillfully and in close cooperation with the Senior Pilot when the patrol plane was landed in a rough sea to rescue shipwrecked survivors. After sixteen men and one woman, survivors from a torpedoed steamship, had been taken aboard the plane, Aviation Machinist's Mate Thompson again manned the engine throttles; with an extraordinary demonstration of professional skill and judgment he applied the maximum power of the engines at the right instant and in perfect harmony with the Senior Pilot's manipulation of the controls such that the then overloaded and overcrowded patrol plane was taken off in a superb demonstration of airmanship. This action, which undoubtedly saved the lives of many of the survivors, reflects great credit upon Aviation Machinist's Mate Thompson and the United States Naval Service.

General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 303 (June 1942) & 321 (December 1943)

Action Date: March 9 1942

Service: Navy

Rank: Aviation Machinist's Mate