The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Arthur W. Petersen (ASN: 0-756685), United States Army Air Forces, for heroic and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as a member of the 367th Fighter Group, NINTH Air Force, on 5 August 1944. While leading a squadron on an armed reconnaissance mission in the vicinity of Orleans, France, Lieutenant Petersen, despite extremely hazardous weather conditions and intense light anti-aircraft and small arms fire, led an attack on a retreating troop train. After destroying the locomotives and half of the cars as well as taking an undetermined toll of enemy personnel, he aggressively attacked and destroyed a fuel dump, a locomotive and additional enemy railroad cars. His superior airmanship and tactical technique exhibited on this occasion were exemplary of the highest traditions of the Army Air Forces.