The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Commander John C. Kelley (NSN: 0-81238), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Executive Officer of Fighting Squadron THIRTY-THREE (VF-33), in the Pacific area from September to November 1943. Lieutenant Commander Kelley led his division against a large force of Japanese planes near Empress Augusta Bay and shot down one enemy dive bomber. On a later occasion he maneuvered his plane through intense anti-aircraft fire and sent two Japanese planes crashing into the sea, although his own was badly damaged and burning.