The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade [then Ensign] Winthrop Richard Hanawalt, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber of Bombing Squadron NINE (VB-9), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-10), during action against enemy Japanese forces in the East China Sea on 7 April 1945. Undaunted by intense anti-aircraft fire and a low cloud cover which obscured the target, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Hanawalt pressed home an attack against an enemy Task Group, consisting of a battleship, a cruiser and screening destroyers, scoring direct hits amidships on the cruiser and aiding in disrupting the gunfire of the vessel sufficiently to enable other planes to sink the vessel. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Hanawalt’s airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.