The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant [then Lieutenant, Junior Grade] Rudolph Lloyd, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Commander of a Navy PBY Catalina Patrol Plane in Patrol Squadron FIFTY-TWO (VP-52), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Sea and Bismarck Archipelago Areas in December 1943. A skilled and intrepid airman in the face of darkness and extremely adverse weather conditions, Lieutenant Lloyd pressed home a vigorous strike against a large enemy merchant vessel on 10 December 1943, courageously returning to the target after releasing his bombs to deliver an intense, accurate strafing attack which left the hostile vessel in a sinking condition. Boldly defying withering enemy anti-aircraft fire of all calibers during a later raid against a Japanese cruiser in Kavieng Harbor, he launched a daring low-altitude assault and, despite the fact that completion of the run would bring him over large concentrations of hostile shore batteries, steadfastly held to his target and succeeded in scoring two direct hits upon the Japanese warship. Lieutenant Lloyd’s superb airmanship and tenacious devotion to duty in the face of grave peril were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.