The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Air Corps) William R. Wales (ASN: 0-799106), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a C-47 Troop Transport Aircraft of the 76th Troop Carrier Squadron, 435th Troop Carrier Group, NINTH Air Force, in aerial operations over LaRoche, Belgium, on 23 December 1944. Captain Wales sacrificed himself gallantly to save crew members and other aircraft. His airplane, badly damaged and burning from enemy antiaircraft fire, presented a dangerous hazard to the adjacent formation. Captain Wales, disregarding his own safety, cleared the blazing airplane from the formation, ordered “abandon ship,” and continued to control the airplane until all crew members, including the wounded, escaped, but too late to save himself. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Captain Wales, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.