The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Air Service) Fred William Norton, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 27th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., in the Toul sector, France, on 2 July 1918. Lieutenant Norton, as flight commander, led a patrol of eight machines, the first large American formation to encounter a large German patrol. His command gave battle to nine enemy battle planes driven by some of the leading aces of the German Army. Although both of his guns jammed at the beginning of the fight and were therefore useless, he stayed with the formation, skillfully maneuvering his machine to the best advantage. He was attacked by enemy planes at four different times, but skillfully avoided them or dived at them. His continued presence was a great moral help to his comrades, who destroyed two of the enemy planes. On 23 July 1918, Lieutenant Norton died of wounds received in action 20 July 1918.