The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant [then Lieutenant, Junior Grade] Erling Eugene Jacobsen (NSN: 0-156452), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber and Section Leader in Bombing Fighting Squadron TEN (VBF-10), attached to the U.S.S. INTREPID (CV-11), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the East China Sea, on 7 April 1945. Participating in a daring strike against major units of the Japanese Fleet during extremely adverse weather, Lieutenant Jacobsen boldly pressed home a determined attack on a Japanese battleship in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire, scoring a direct hit on the hostile craft and contributing materially to its subsequent sinking. His courageous airmanship, great personal valor and zealous devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.