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The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander William Arthur Dean, Jr., United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 3 July 1944 in the Kazan Islands area. Commander Dean’s squadron destroyed 30 enemy planes on the ground. Then, having lost his altitude advantage during the attack, Commander Dean fought his way through a vastly superior number of enemy planes to join his squadron, personally shooting down three enemy fighters.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Commander

    Batallion:

    Fighting Squadron 2 (VF-2)

    Division:

    U.S.S. Hornet (CV-12)

    Action Date:

    December 4, 1943
    Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 335 (February 1945)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander William Arthur Dean, Jr., United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while leading his squadron on a raid on Kwajalein Atoll on 4 December 1943. Commander Dean shot down one plane and his squadron shot down four and destroyed eleven more on the ground.

  • Navy Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Commander

    Batallion:

    Fighting Squadron 2 (VF-2)

    Division:

    U.S.S. Hornet (CV-12)

    Action Date:

    June 11 & 20, 1944
    Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 335 (February 1945)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander William Arthur Dean, Jr., 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 of Fighting Squadron TWO (VF-2), attached to the U.S.S. HORNET (CV-12), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Saipan on 11 and 20 June 1944. Commander Dean led repeated and daring aerial attacks against enemy airfields and fleet units during the Operations at Saipan in the Pacific War Area. On 11 June his squadron shot down 23 enemy aircraft in the Marianas, four of which Commander Dean personally accounted for. On 20 June his squadron attacked major units of the enemy fleet and, in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire and fighter opposition, he personally scored a direct bomb hit on a large enemy aircraft carrier. Commander Dean’s 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:

    Commander

    Batallion:

    Fighting Squadron 2 (VF-2)

    Action Date:

    World War II

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Commander William Arthur Dean, Jr., United States Navy, was awarded a Fourth Gold Star in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Fighter Pilot in Fighting Squadron TWO (VF-2), in action against the enemy during World War II.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Commander

    Batallion:

    Fighting Squadron 2 (VF-2)

    Action Date:

    World War II

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Commander William Arthur Dean, Jr., United States Navy, was awarded a Third Gold Star in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Fighter Pilot in Fighting Squadron TWO (VF-2), in action against the enemy during World War II.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Commander

    Action Date:

    March 19 – September 4, 1952
    All Hands (November 1953)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Commander William Arthur Dean, Jr., United States Navy, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States while serving on the staff of Commander Task Force 77, from 19 March to 4 September 1952.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Commander

    Batallion:

    Fighting Squadron 2 (VF-2)

    Division:

    U.S.S. Hornet (CV-12)

    Action Date:

    June 19, 1944
    Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 335 (February 1945)

    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 Commander William Arthur Dean, Jr., United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 19 June 1944. Commander Dean led his squadron directly into approaching formations of enemy aircraft threatening major units of our fleet in the Mariana Islands area. In air battles which lasted several hours his squadron destroyed 52 enemy planes, of which he shot down two. The enemy air attack was disrupted and a major counter blow was dealt the enemy carrier-borne aircraft.