Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant

    Batallion:

    Fighting Squadron 19 (VF-19)

    Division:

    U.S.S. Lexington (CV-16)

    Action Date:

    September 22, 1944

    Commander 1st Carrier Task Force Pacific: Serial 0724 (October 28, 1944)

    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.

  • Navy Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant

    Batallion:

    Fighting Squadron 19 (VF-19)

    Division:

    U.S.S. Lexington (CV-16)

    Action Date:

    October 24, 1944

    Commander 1st Carrier Task Force Pacific: Serial 0765 (October 30, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Roger Stanley Boles (NSN: 0-86062), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane and Commanding Officer of Fighting Squadron NINETEEN (VF-19) attached to the U.S.S. LEXINGTON (CV-16), while assigned to strike major Japanese Fleet Units on 24 October 1944, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, in the Philippine Islands. As leader of the fighter cover and support of a strike, Lieutenant Boles flew through hazardous weather over enemy territory to an inland sea area of the Philippine Islands where he led his group in strafing attacks that enabled the bomber and torpedo aircraft that he was escorting to hit and severely damage a battleship and three cruisers. He strafed two battleships and a destroyer from a level of 100 feet, which were firing intense and accurate anti-aircraft, and perceptibly reduced the amount of fire and its accuracy, thus enabling the bombing and Torpedo Planes to complete their attack. Lieutenant Boles outstanding courage, daring airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant

    Batallion:

    Fighting Squadron 19 (VF-19)

    Division:

    U.S.S. Lexington (CV-16)

    Action Date:

    October 25, 1944

    Commander 1st Carrier Task Force Pacific: Serial 0765 (October 30, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of 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 flight against an enemy fleet on 25 October 1944. When an enemy aircraft attacked one of the bombers he was escorting as leader of the fighter cover, he promptly engaged and shot down this fighter aircraft and then led his flight so successfully that no enemy aircraft were able to attack this group. He also strafed a carrier and silenced a battery on a battleship which was shooting at our attacking aircraft, thus enabling them to complete their mission, and probably destroy an enemy carrier. On 13 October he skillfully engaged and shot down an enemy leader and on 24 October he drove off and then destroyed a twin engine bomber aircraft which attempted to attack his Task Force. His courage, skill and leadership were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.