The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Robert Charles Coats (NSN: 0-84308), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron SEVENTEEN (VF-17), attached to the U.S.S. HORNET (CV-12), in operations against the enemy during a fighter plane sweep over southern Kyushu, Japan, on 18 March 1945. Flying as leader of a division of carrier-based fighters, Lieutenant Coats personally destroyed five enemy planes during the flight. He shot down one enemy plane in flames as it pursued a fellow pilot. Shortly thereafter five more enemy fighters were observed, flying in echelon formation. He closed to the rear of this flight and, with three short bursts, dropping his left wing and turning slightly to the left each time, destroyed three of the planes, one exploding in the air and the others flaming at the wing roots and crashing. Later during the same flight he sighted two enemy fighters pursuing one of our planes. He fired on one of the planes whose pilot bailed out when part of a wing flew off. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.