The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant, Junior Grade George Alister Gibbs, Jr. (NSN: 0-250630), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Combat Plane in Bombing Fighting Squadron EIGHTY-THREE (VBF-83), attached to the U.S.S. ESSEX (CV-9), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the East China Sea on 7 April 1945. Leading a four-plane division in a bombing attack against major units of the enemy Fleet, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Gibbs selected a hostile battleship as his target and, fighting his plane gallantly in the face of intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire, scored a direct hit which contributed materially to the destruction of the Japanese warship. His expert airmanship, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.