The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Fritz Emil Wolf, United States Navy, for heroism in operations against the heart of the Japanese Empire on 16 February 1945 while serving as pilot of a carrier-based fighter plane in Bombing Fighting Squadron THREE (VBF-3). On the first historic strike against airfields in the Tokyo area, he led two fighter sweeps which encountered persistent enemy air opposition and intense anti-aircraft fire from ground positions but despite these hazards and the knowledge that there was no escape if forced down, planes under his command gained and maintained control of the air and brought extensive damage to grounded planes and airfield installations. During these flights he shot down one airborne enemy aircraft, damaged another, and in attacks on airfields, destroyed two twin engine planes and seriously damaged three single engine planes by rockets and machine gun fire. His skill and courage were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.