The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant David J. Thigpen, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of a jet aircraft in Naval Reserve Fighter Squadron SEVEN HUNDRED ONE (VF-701) at the U.S. Naval Air Station, Dallas, Texas. Lieutenant Thigpen experienced an engine fire while flying over a heavily populated area at low altitude shortly after takeoff from the air station on 9 January 1965. He elected to remain with the burning aircraft in order to guide it to an uninhabited area outside the city before successfully ejecting at an altitude of 400 feet. The aircraft crashed in an open field with no loss of life and negligible property damage. In risking his own life to safeguard the lives and property of others, Lieutenant Thigpen upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.