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 Commander Andrew Britte Hamm (NSN: 0-82340), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 18 July 1945 when he nominated himself to fly as the leader of a division of bombers which dived last in an attack on an enemy battleship in the Yokosuka Naval Base in the heart of the Japanese homeland. In taking this action, he placed himself in a position from which to make the most accurate observations of the damage done by planes preceding him in the attack. By the same token his division became the target of the most accurate of the intense heavy and medium anti-aircraft fire of warships and shore batteries. In the face of this withering fire, he pressed home his attack and dropped his bomb alongside the battleship and then maneuvered his plane at a low altitude to obtain excellent photo coverage of the bombing attacks. His leadership, determination and skillful airmanship on this occasion were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander Andrew Britte Hamm (NSN: 0-82340), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 14 July 1945 as the leader of ten dive bombing planes which carried spotting officers for the first surface bombardment of the Japanese homeland by battleships and cruisers of the United States Navy. The bombardment was directed against major industrial targets on the island of Honshu in the heart of Japan. For two hours he circled over the target area of Kamaishi in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire from ships in the harbor and camouflaged shore batteries thereby placing his spotter in the most advantageous positions from which to direct the salvos of battleships and cruisers. At times he flew so low his plane barely cleared the hilltops. His leadership, determination and skillful airmanship on this occasion were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.