The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Raymond K. Hine (ASN: 0-431436), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism while serving as Pilot of a P-38 fighter airplane in the 339th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group, THIRTEENTH Air Force, U.S. Army Air Forces, attached to a Marine Fighter Command in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands on 18 April 1943. Lieutenant Hine participated in a Lightning fighter attack to Bougainville on a special interception mission. This mission was the longest planned fighter interception ever completed, consisting of a 494 mile, low-altitude, indirect approach to the estimated position of the enemy formation, which was located with faultless precision, achieving complete tactical surprise. The enemy force consisted of two bombers escorted by six fighters and the coordination, calculated attack of our aircraft not only destroyed in flames the primary target, the heavy bombers, but accounted for a confirmed total of six enemy aircraft. Lieutenant Hine flew win on First Lieutenant Besby Holmes in the attacking section of the flight, and stayed in formation with him in spite of the fact that Lieutenant Holmes experienced difficulty in dropping his wing tank when the enemy formation was first sighted. Together they attacked the Zeroes pursuing Lieutenant Barber, and broke up their attack. Together they attacked and helped to destroy a third enemy bomber flying low over the water near Koila Point, which was finally exploded by Lieutenant Barber. They then engaged a number of Zeros, and it appears that Lieutenant Hine accounted for one of three shot down during this stage of the engagement. At about that time his left engine was observed to be smoking, and he was last seen losing altitude south of Shortland Island and since has been missing in action. Lieutenant Hine by his firm courage, flying skill, faultless air discipline contributed largely to the perfect timing and teamwork which were the prerequisites of success.