The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Commander Howard Foster Mears (NSN: 0-146555), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Commander of a Navy Patrol Bomber Airplane in Patrol-Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED SIX (VPB-106), and as Leader of a two-plane section of Navy Search Bombers during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Singapore area, on 1 June 1945. Undertaking a vital observation and photographic mission to secure intelligence concerning hostile shipping, airfields and ground installations with particular regard to the location and condition of enemy heavy cruisers known to be at Singapore, Lieutenant Commander Mears coolly persisted in his mission until the desired information was obtained despite intense and continuous opposition from the enemy’s powerful ship and shore batteries and impending attack from a vastly superior and rapidly increasing number of Japanese fighter planes. By skillfully coordinating the maneuvers of his two planes, he avoided damage from the concentrated anti-aircraft barrage and enabled both planes to continue their observation and photography until a hostile fighter scored a hit from extreme range, causing his number three engine to burst into flames and the plane to lose altitude. Undaunted by incessant attacks upon his crippled plane, Lieutenant Commander Mears successfully repulsed the enemy onslaught by skillfully directing the combined fire of his two bombers and, although losing altitude constantly, continued to hold his course until flames from the temporarily feathered engine fanned out again and the starboard wing broke off, forcing him into the water from the perilously low altitude of three hundred feet. By his brilliant combat tactics and superb airmanship, Lieutenant Commander Mears made possible the collection of information which was of inestimable value to the Allied forces and his inspiring leadership and unwavering devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.