The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain William O. Carter, Jr., United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight off Duljugan Point, Leyte, Philippine Islands, on 29 November l944. Captain Carter was a flight leader in a formation of 16 P-47 aircraft which attacked a Japanese convoy consisting of 2 large transports and a destroyer escort. Leading his 4-plane flight in a low-level attack, through light and medium anti-aircraft fire, he strafed one of the transports and dropped a bomb directly on its stern. An explosion shook the vessel and, having also been hit by another member of his flight, it began to sink. Then, accompanied by a wingman, Captain Carter made a minimum-altitude attack on the destroyer escort, which continued to throw up a barrage of anti-aircraft fire. He and his wing- man scored direct hits on the warship, setting it on fire. The vessel lost speed, stopped, and began sinking at the stern. The outstanding courage and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Carter during this flight are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army Air Forces.