The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Ensign Otto Ross Bleech (NSN: 0-278304), United States Naval Reserve, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as pilot of a carrier-based torpedo plane in Torpedo Squadron FIFTEEN (VF-15), embarked in U.S.S. ESSEX (CV-9), in an attack on a large enemy convoy in the vicinity of the Mariana Islands on 12 June 1944. In the face of enemy anti-aircraft fire, he so skillfully and courageously delivered his attack as to score direct hits with rockets and to cause excessive damage with bombs on an enemy merchant vessel which, when last seen, was dead in the water and burning furiously and abandoned. His skill and courage were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.