The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Technical Sergeant William Prince (ASN: 6545198), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while serving as a member of the Air Crew of a B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber in Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy), Far East Air Force, in action over Kendari, Celebes Islands, on 8 February 1942. Sergeant Prince and others of the crew of a B-17 sacrificed their personal safety during an enemy raid on Malang, Java, in order that they might get a valuable and greatly needed aircraft under shelter before it could be destroyed. Their task, performed with bombs bursting all around, was to push the Flying Fortress from a muddy field where it had stuck on landing. Previously Sergeant Prince, a Bombardier, and the crew fought off an attack by nine Zero planes while on a mission against the enemy-held airdrome at Kendari in a formation of nine B-17s. Sergeant Prince displayed courageous resourcefulness both in the air battle and the subsequent ground action. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Technical Sergeant Prince, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.