The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade William C. Smith, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while leading a Division of Wildcat fighters over Rendova Island during World War II. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Smith attacked a force of enemy dive bombers. After destroying the leading bomber, he engaged and shot down two Zeros. On a later patrol he dived on a large flight of Japanese bombers and fighters and blasted off the port wing of a Zero.