The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Roger Stanley Boles (NSN: 0-86062), United States Naval Reserve, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flights as Pilot of a carrier-based fighter aircraft assigned to strike against enemy installations on an island of the Philippine Group on 22 September 1944. He was Leader of the fighter escort covering the bomber and torpedo aircraft when the strike he was escorting was attacked by an overwhelming number of enemy fighter aircraft with altitude advantage, cloud cover, and the initiative of the offensive. He so skillfully maneuvered and led the defending fighters that not an enemy aircraft was able to take any of our bomber or torpedo aircraft under fire. In preventing these enemy fighters from penetrating the fighter cover, the escort shot down six of the attackers, so heavily damaged two more that they are believed destroyed, and damaged another. He personally shot down one of these enemy fighters. Although the strike was repeatedly threatened during the remainder of the flight, the escort was so skillfully led that no further attacks were pressed home. His courage, skill, and aggressive leadership, were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.