(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Nelson Levi (ASN: 0-433011), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Navigator of a B-17 Heavy Bomber in the 26th Bombardment Squadron, 11th Bombardment Group (H), THIRTEENTH Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission on 18 November 1942, against enemy targets at Tonolei Harbor off southern Bougainville, in the South Pacific Area of Operations. Twice, First Lieutenant Levi’s B-17 was attacked by enemy fighters making head-on firing passes, concentrating on the bomber’s nose. The attacks killed the pilot, mortally wounded the co-pilot, and First Lieutenant Levi was also wounded. Colonel Saunders, a pilot who was aboard as a passenger, took the controls. Damaged during the attacks, the bomber’s number 2 engine was feathered and the number 1 engine was running away and smoking. The number 2 fuel tank was on fire. The crippled B-17 was escorted by the other B-17s away from the target and, although loosing altitude, it was able to fly on the remaining two engines. The bomber managed to ditch off Baga Island, near Vella Lavella, and the surviving crew successfully deployed their life rafts. The Pilot was already dead and went down with the bomber as it sank. By the time their rafts reached shore, the co-pilot had also died and was buried on the beach at Baga Island. The surviving crew members were rescued the next day by a U.S. Navy PBY Catalina escorted by 3 F4F Wildcat fighters. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by First Lieutenant Levi on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 13th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.