(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Joseph Wilson Ferguson (ASN: 0-429779), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as Co-Pilot of a B-25 Mitchell Bomber of the 90th Bombardment Squadron, 3d Bombardment Group (Light), FIFTH Air Force, in aerial operations on a Combat Mission over Lae Airfield, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea, in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations, on 25 May 1942. Over the target his B-25 was attacked by approximately fifteen Japanese Zeros for approximately twenty minutes. The Mitchell Bomber was last seen being engaged by two Zeros and losing altitude with both engines in flames. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by First Lieutenant Ferguson, 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.