The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Ensign William Huntington Abney (NSN: 0-300742), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a pilot in a carrier-based airplane of Bombing Squadron SEVEN (VB-7), embarked in U.S.S. HANCOCK (CV-19), on 25 October 1944. Flying to extreme range from his carrier against major units of the enemy fleet off Samar, he pressed home his attack despite most intense anti-aircraft in utter disregard of his own safety, and scored a probable hit on an enemy battleship. His courage and skill were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.