The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Robert E. Benton (MCSN: 0-27510), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Pilot of a Plane in Marine Photographic Squadron ONE in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 29 August 1952. Escorted by jet fighters while piloting his aircraft on a high priority photo reconnaissance mission over a heavily defended enemy power complex, Captain Benton descended through successive cloud layers and approached the objective area beneath a low overcast where increasingly intense and accurate hostile anti-aircraft fire prevented full photographic coverage of the assigned targets during the initial run. With his plane thrown into an uncontrolled dive by a shattering burst of enemy fire which struck the left wing while he was returning for a second approach, Captain Benton regained control of his severely damaged aircraft at a minimum altitude and returned through instrument weather to his base. Refusing to abandon his plane although the landing gear, speed brake, flap and aileron boost controls were completely destroyed, he skillfully executed a power-off crash landing without injury to himself or damage to the valuable film. By his outstanding courage, skilled airmanship and unswerving devotion to the fulfillment of a vital mission, Captain Benton preserved valuable intelligence information for use in future operations against the enemy and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.