The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant William Ernest Sinton, United States Coast Guard, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. On the late afternoon of 3 October 1941 Lieutenant SINTON was pilot of the Coast Guard R5O aircraft V-188 with the Secretary of the Treasury on board. While executing an instrument let down procedure to break through an overcast preparatory to landing at New Hackensack, New Jersey the aircraft struck the treetops and was severely damaged. An imminent crash landing seemed certain, but the pilot and crew kept the damaged airplane in the air. After a flight of almost two hours in low visibility and darkness, the airplane arrived over Philadelphia where clear weather prevailed. Because of the condition of the airplane a dangerous landing at high speed was necessary and it was accomplished without injury to the persons on board or further damage to the airplane. The courage, quick thinking, skill, resourcefulness and efficient teamwork of the pilot and crew transformed almost certain disaster into a safe landing which was incredible in light of the damage to the airplane. The achievement and performance of duty were extraordinary.