The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant James Malcolm Stubblebine, United States Naval Reserve, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as a Pilot of a Carrier Based Torpedo Plane in Torpedo Squadron EIGHTY, attached to the U.S.S. TICONDEROGA. During operations against enemy Japanese forces on 12 January 1945, Lieutenant Stubblebine participated in a bombing attack against an enemy convoy of large supply ships in the China Coast area. Although the attack was made under adverse weather conditions and in the midst of anti-aircraft fire, Lieutenant Stubblebine scored a bomb hit on a large tanker that burned and sank. In the successful completion of this mission, he showed decided skill, courage and drive all in keeping with the highest tradition of the Naval Service.