The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander Clarence M. White, Jr., United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Commanding Officer of a Fighting Squadron in the Solomon Islands from 26 April 1943 to 11 July 1943. Lieutenant Commander White led his squadron on numerous patrols, sweeps, and escort missions in which a total of 55 enemy planes were shot down. He personally assisted in the destruction of two Zeros.