The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Philip R. Burnham (MCSN: 0-49361), United States Marine Corps, for heroism while participating in aerial flight against the enemy while serving as a pilot attached to a Marine Fighter Squadron in Korea. On 27 September 1951, First Lieutenant Burnham, in response to an urgent call for close air support took off with his flight from a forward air base. Immediately upon arriving in the target area, First Lieutenant Burnham located the flashes of enemy artillery pieces. These weapons, strategically concealed in a small village in the path of our advance, were firing into friendly forces inflicting heavy casualties. Despite low clouds and conditions of reduced visibility, First Lieutenant Burnham, by his able leadership, positioned his flight as to most advantageously strike his objective. Notwithstanding the heavy and accurate automatic fire directed at the planes, he initiated his attacks. In the course of his repeated attacks, First Lieutenant Burnham’s plane was hit several times but with utter disregard for his own personal safety, he continued to press home his attacks until his mission was accomplished. As a direct result of his outstanding leadership and expert airmanship, three enemy field pieces were destroyed, one enemy supply dump was set afire, several enemy troops were killed and the fire being received by friendly forces was silenced. First Lieutenant Burnham’s skillful flying and fearless devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.