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 Staff Sergeant Edwin D. Lawson, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on a maximum effort incendiary strike against the urban area of Tokyo, Japan, on 25 May 1945. Staff Sergeant Lawson was a combat crew member of a B-29 aircraft flying through adverse and rapidly changing weather conditions on the long over-water flight from his base in the Mariana Islands to the target area. Over Tokyo a great number of searchlights were encountered, directing intense fire by enemy anti-aircraft installations and fighters. Despite very severe opposition, Staff Sergeant Lawson performed his assigned duty with exemplary skill and coolness, thereby contributing directly to the efficient teamwork which enabled this crew to release its weight of bombs with maximum affect. The courage, skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Staff Sergeant Lawson of repeated assaults against the Japanese homeland resulted in a devastating blow against enemy installations and reflects great credit on himself and the Army Air Forces.