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 (Air Corps) Douglas W. Spawn, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during an operational mission as Pilot of a bomber of the 82nd Bombardment Squadron, 12th Bombardment Group (M), NINTH Air Force, in action on 5 September 1942. On that date, Captain Spawn discovered, upon turning back for home base, that the hydraulic system had failed leaving his bomb-bay doors open and making it necessary to close them by hand. Nearing the home base with the gasoline almost exhausted, he turned over the controls to the co-pilot and removing his parachute, he made his way to the navigator’s compartment and cranked the nose wheel down. Making his way to the rear of the plane, he attempted to lower the main landing wheels, but the mechanical system broke when the wheels were only partly extended. Returning to the controls and availing himself of his skill and knowledge, Captain Spawn successfully crash-landed the ship with no injury to the crew and only slight damage to the propellers.