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 First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Richard T. Aldworth, U.S. Army Air Corps, for heroism while participating in an aerial flight from Michel Field, Long Island, New York to Langley Field, Hampton, Virginia, on 12 December 1926. While flying at an altitude of 1,000 over Rockaway Beach, Long Island New York, the engine in Lieutenant Aldworth’s Airplane instantaneously and completely failed. Efforts to start the engine proving to no avail, and being fully aware of the danger to himself, Lieutenant Aldworth, disregarding his own safety, and mindful only of the safety of the crowds on the beach, displayed excellent judgment and great courage when he maneuvered his airplane to avoid the crowds on the beach and crashed into the breakers offshore. His airplane turned over immediately with great force and left Lieutenant Aldworth submerged bellow the surface, from which position he extricated himself and was assisted ashore.