The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Alfred Frasier Mooty, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Scout Dive Bomber in Bombing Squadron EIGHT (VB-8), attached to the U.S.S. BUNKER HILL (CV-17), during the attack on the Japanese Battle Fleet in the First Battle of the Philippine Sea on 20 June 1944. Boldly countering fierce enemy fighter opposition and flying through intense anti-aircraft fire from guns of all calibers, Lieutenant Mooty promptly maneuvered to attack a Japanese battleship of the KONGO class and, diving through fire sent up from her main batteries, dropped his bomb load at low altitude to score a direct hit and inflict extensive damage on the hostile vessel. By his airmanship and devotion to duty throughout this perilous engagement, Lieutenant Mooty contributed materially to the success of this decisive action and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.