The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] John Floyd Gray (NSN: 0-83440), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron FIVE (VF-5), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-10), in action against enemy Japanese forces at Truk, Saipan, and Tinian, on 16 and 22 February 1944. Braving heavy enemy air opposition on 16 February, Lieutenant Commander Gray courageously led his fighters in an aggressive raid against the Dublon Island Seaplane Base and, pressing home his attack to point-blank range in the face of an intense barrage of hostile anti-aircraft fire, succeeded in immobilizing the base, downing three enemy aircraft and damaging several others on the ground. In a strike against airfields on Saipan and Tinian on 22 February, he led his group in runs which resulted in the shooting down of an airborne fighter, the burning of twelve twin-engined bombers on the ground and the destruction of military installations, including two huge fuel dumps. In addition, three small ships were sunk and larger vessels damaged. By his gallant fighting spirit, superb airmanship and devotion to duty during these missions, Lieutenant Commander Gray upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.