The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Henry P. Rettinger, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight over Kyushu Island, Japan on 5 July 1945. Captain Rettinger was leading a squadron of 13 P-51’s on a fighter sweep, when four enemy aircraft were sighted. He immediately moved in behind them, closed in to within 150 yards of the rear plane and fired, damaging it’s tail. The hostile formation broke up and he continued his attack on the same aircraft. Firing another burst he shot off the right wing tip and an aileron and the enemy fighter plunged to the water. Captain Rettinger then climbed to 4500 feet and attacked another enemy fighter of the same type. He fired a 4-second burst, scored several hits on the engine, shot off the canopy and sent the Japanese plane crashing into the water. The outstanding courage and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Rettinger during this flight are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army Air Forces.