The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant [then Lieutenant, Junior Grade] Romayn Frederick Heyler (NSN: 0-250990), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Plane Commander of a Navy Liberator Search Bomber in Patrol Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED ELEVEN (VPB-111), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Southwestern Pacific War Area, on 1 June 1945. Despite the extreme personal peril involved, Lieutenant Heyler gallantry penetrated the heavily enemy-defended base of Singapore and, in the face of intense enemy fighter opposition, furnished protection for a crippled Navy search plane. In addition, he courageously maneuvered his plane in aggressive attacks which resulted in the destruction of at least one enemy plane, in the probable destruction of two more and in the damaging of five others. By his superb airmanship and aggressive fighting spirit, Lieutenant Heyler upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.