The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Third Gold Star in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander Gilbert Stayton Blake (NSN: 0-250779), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight from 21 April 1944 to 29 April 1944. Lieutenant Commander Blake completed twenty flights in a combat area where enemy anti-aircraft fire was expected to be effective or where enemy aircraft patrols usually occurred. His conduct throughout has distinguished him among those performing duties of the same character.