The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander David I. Scott, United States Coast Guard, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on the morning of 25 February 1975 as Aircraft Commander and Pilot of Coast Guard HH-3F 1480 helicopter engaged in the successful evacuation of a critically ill crewman from the East German F/V Bernard Kellernan, located sixty miles southeast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Dispatched from Air Station Cape Cod, Lieutenant Commander Scott was forced to proceed to the scene using only aircraft instruments due to darkness and heavy fog, which reduced visibility to a minimum throughout the flight. After arriving on scene and establishing communications with the vessel, Lieutenant Commander Scott positioned the helicopter in a hover above the confined hoisting area, which was surrounded by antennas and masts partially obscured by the fog, while the patient was hoisted aboard. Departing the scene immediately, the already poor weather deteriorated as the aircraft approached its destination. Realizing the delay required to fly to the nearest suitable alternate site would seriously jeopardize the life of the ill crewman and, despite the exhausting ordeal to which he had already been subjected, Lieutenant Commander Scott skillfully and expertly executed an instrument approach to the lowest authorized altitude, sighted the airfield and made the landing. The patient was then transferred to an awaiting ambulance for treatment to a hospital. Lieutenant Commander Scott’s innovative actions, expert aeronautical skills and dauntless valor throughout this perilous mission resulted in saving the life of the crewman. His heroic courage, sound judgment and unwavering devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.