The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Benjamin Colonna Tate (NSN: 0-130494), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane in Torpedo Squadron TWENTY-FOUR (VT-24), attached to the U.S.S. BELLEAU WOOD (CVL-24), in action against major units of the Japanese fleet west of the Mariana Islands during the first Battle of the Philippine Sea, on 20 June 1944. As pilot of one of a division of four torpedo planes, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Tate skillfully maneuvered into an advantageous position and executed an attack on an enemy aircraft carrier Task Group, totally unassisted by other friendly aircraft and in spite of heavy, accurate gunfire from the enemy surface vessels. He courageously pressed home his attack despite the fact that one of the four planes had been lost, that he was forced to make his run between points that brought him under the intense crossfire of several enemy ships, that the controls of his plane were damaged by anti-aircraft fire and that he was wounded. He launched his torpedo at low altitude and close range, obtaining a direct hit on a large enemy aircraft carrier, which, in conjunction with the hits made by the two remaining planes in the division, resulted in the sinking of the carrier. Upon his retirement from the scene of the attack he was attacked by two enemy fighter planes. Although his wing guns had been damaged by anti-aircraft fire and were inoperative and his turret gun had jammed, by courageous and skillful flying he out maneuvered and bluffed the attacking enemy planes until he could reach cloud cover and escape. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Tate’s expert airmanship, daring combat tactics and unswerving devotion to duty were important factors in the inflicting of heavy damage on the enemy during this historic engagement, and his gallant fortitude throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval service.