The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Air Corps) John B. Mead (ASN: 0-733073), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while participating in a hazardous night mission over Europe, 5 May 1944. Flying at low altitude and without escort, the B-24 Liberator Bomber in which Captain Mead was serving as Bombardier was subjected to a veritable hail of flak. Both wings of the plane were set afire and an auxiliary fuel tank in the right wing burst into flames. Realizing that the aircraft was doomed, he attempted to contact the pilot on the interphone, but discovered that it had been rendered useless. Making his way to the rear of the plane, Captain Mead manually opened the bomb bay doors to lessen the intense heat and assist the crew in bailing out. Seeing that two of the crewmen were dazed and helpless, he procured parachutes for them and assisted in buckling them on. It was not until the entire crew had cleared the plane, which by now was a blazing inferno, that Captain Mead bailed out. His courage, utter disregard for personal safety, and cool judgment undoubtedly saved the lives of the two stricken crewmen.