The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Navy Award) to First Lieutenant Joe Frank Adams, United States Army Air Forces, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a Pilot of a Fighter Plane during the rescue of the survivors of a bomber forced down at sea off the coast of the enemy-held Ballale, British Solomon Islands on 14 April 1944. Lieutenant Adams, accompanied by three other fighter planes, was assigned to escort a patrol plane to the vicinity of the downed aircraft. When the patrol plane made a water landing, it was subjected to intense machine gun and artillery fire from enemy shore batteries. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Lieutenant Adams made several low level strafing attacks on the enemy gun positions. Disregarding the fact that his ammunition supply had been exhausted, he made repeated runs on the artillery and machine gun emplacements drawing their fire away from the rescue plane. Although his plane was severely damaged by anti-aircraft fire, he succeeded in reaching a friendly airfield where he made a skillful landing. His courage, superior airmanship and unselfish devotion to duty contributed materially to the success of the mission and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Military Service.