The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Service) Raymond P. Dillon, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 24th Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near Mezieres, France, 3 November 1918. Lieutenant Dillon exhibited courage in the course of a long and dangerous photographic and visual reconnaissance in the region of Mezieres with two other planes of the 24th Aero Squadron. Their formation was broken by the attack of ten enemy pursuit planes; five enemy planes attacked Lieutenant Dillon and his observer, who succeeded in shooting down two of these out of control. They then had a clear passage to their own lines, but turned back into Germany to assist a friendly plane with several hostile aircraft attacking it. They succeeded in shooting down one more of the enemy.