The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Howard McClain Burriss (NSN: 0-130671), United States Naval Reserve, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Fighter Pilot in Fighting Squadron SEVENTEEN (VF-17), in action against the enemy in the Rabaul area. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Burriss flew five missions over Rabaul between 26 and 31 January 1944, encountering enemy aircraft on each occasion. On 27 January he was escorting a flight of our bombers which was intercepted by sixty to eighty Japanese fighters. He was hit byfire from a Zeke, but courageously remained at his post over the bombers and shot down one Zeke. His own plane was so badly damaged that he was forced to make a water landing while returning to base. On 29 January he flew one of two F4U’s which engaged twelve Zekes waiting over Cape Gazelle to intercept our strike. With utter disregard for his own personal safety and with no heed for the numerical superiority of the enemy he pressed home his attacks to the limit and by superb marksmanship succeeded in shooting down four Zekes. On 31 January, while he was flying cover on our bombers in a strike against shipping in Keravia Harbor his plane was badly hit by a Zeke, and he was seen to make a controlled water landing in Kabanga Bay. He is missing as of that date. His tireless devotion to duty, his extraordinary heroism in the face of numerically superior enemy forces, and his audacious airmanship were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.