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) William Whyte Palmer, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 94th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., in the region of Doulcon, France, 3 October 1918. First Lieutenant Palmer encountered three enemy planes (Fokker type). Despite their numerical superiority, he attacked and in a decisive combat sent one down in flames and forced the other to retire.