The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Edward Cobb Outlaw (NSN: 0-75046), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane and Commanding Officer and Flight Leader of two divisions of fighters of Fighting Squadron THIRTY-TWO (VF-32), attached to the U.S.S. LANGLEY (CV-27), in action on 29 April 1944, in a fighter sweep against enemy air forces in the vicinity of Truk Atoll, in the early morning of 29 April 1944. On intercepting two flights of approximately forty enemy fighters, representing a numerical superiority better than four-to-one, he did engage the enemy in a successful, brilliantly executed action. Under his superb leadership and airmanship, and perfect air discipline, the fighters under his command destroyed twenty-one, probably destroyed two, damaged two of the enemy fighters, and put the remainder to flight. This was accomplished without loss of any kind to his command. He, by his own heroic action, destroyed five and probably destroyed one of the enemy fighters. This action materially assisted our forces in gaining superiority of the air, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.