(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Ruby Ernest Johnston (ASN: 0-790247), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Navigator of a B-17 Heavy Bomber in the 65th Bombardment Squadron, 43d Bombardment Group (H), FIFTH Air Force, in aerial action against enemy forces on 16 June 1943, during a Photo-Reconnaissance air mission over Bougainville Island. First Lieutenant Johnston was a member of a volunteer bomber crew which undertook an important and dangerous photo mapping mission over the heavily defended enemy base at Buka. Just before the photographing was completed, about twenty enemy fighters attacked. The bomber was extensively damaged and five of the crew were seriously wounded. First Lieutenant Johnston, with multiple wounds about the head so that bleeding interfered with his vision, continued to man his guns until the explosion of a twenty millimeter shell in the nose of the bomber threw him back into the catwalk. He saw that fire had broken out behind the pilot’s seat, got to his feet, tore out the burning oxygen bottles, and extinguished the fire bare-handed. After a forty-five minute running fight, in which five enemy planes were destroyed and two damaged, the bomber was flown safely to its base five hundred and eighty miles away, First Lieutenant Johnston supervising the navigation despite his injuries. He showed admirable skill and determined courage on this voluntary mission, which secured information of great value in subsequent operations. His unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 5th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.