The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Robert William Ramage (NSN: 0-100408), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane in Torpedo Squadron ONE (VT-1), attached to the U.S.S. BENNINGTON CV-20), in action on 28 July 1945, while deployed over Kure, Japan. Lieutenant Ramage scored two direct bomb hits on an enemy cruiser at the Kure Naval Base on the island of Honshu in the heart of the Japanese homeland. Under his skillful leadership seven attacking carrier-based torpedo bomber planes scored a total of eleven hits on the cruiser. In leading this glide bombing attack, in the face of intense, heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire from battleships, cruisers and numerous other enemy war craft, he materially contributed to the success of the Task Force overall attack on the concentrated Japanese Naval power. His determination and heroic conduct were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.