The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant Ernest Allen Powell (MCSN: 0-10969), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Pilot of a Fighter Plane in Marine Fighting Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO (VMF-122), Marine Air Group FOURTEEN (MAG-14), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in aerial combat against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands Area, on 15 July 1943. When his division made contact with a large number of Japanese twin-engined bombers over Rendova Island, Captain Powell immediately went into action and, boldly intercepting a Zero which was attempting to disrupt the attack by one of our fighters on a hostile bomber, made a head-run on the enemy fighter and exploded it in mid-air. Veering his course, he promptly engaged a Japanese bomber and disintegrated the hostile plane with one burst of fire. Undeterred by a dangerously low supply of ammunition after forcing a third enemy pilot to bail out of his blazing plane, Captain Powell daringly engaged his fourth plane and sent it crashing down off the coast of Kolombangara. His superb airmanship and gallant fighting spirit throughout this action and daring numerous other hazardous missions reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.