The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Franz Norman Kanaga (NSN: 0-85269), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber Plane, and Leader of a Flight of Dive Bombers in Carrier Air Group EIGHTY-SEVEN (CAG-87), attached to the U.S.S. TICONDEROGA (CV-14), in action against enemy Japanese forces during a strike on the battleship-carrier HYUGA, in the Kure Area of the Inland Sea of Japan, on 24 July 1945. Skillfully leading his flight in a coordinated attack on the hostile vessel in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire from ship and shore batteries, Lieutenant Commander Kanaga personally scored a direct bomb hit on the target and contributed materially to the success of his flight ins coring seven additional direct bomb hits and several damaging near misses. By his unfaltering leadership and courage under fire, Lieutenant Commander Kanaga aided immeasurably in sinking this enemy warship. His superb airmanship throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.