The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Robert Lee Klingler, 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 SIX (VF-6), in action over Kagoshima Bay, Island of Kyushu, Japan, on 29 March 1945. With outstanding skill and courage Lieutenant Klingler led a four plane fighter division on a rescue combat air patrol to protect the life of another pilot forced down in Kagoshim Bay, Kyushu Japan and kept his division over the downed the downed pilot for two hours in spite of enemy fighter plane opposition, heavy anti-aircraft fire and the proximity of ten Japanese airfields including a substantial Naval Air Base at Kanoya, only five miles away. He led his division in an attack upon eight Japanese fighter planes, as a result of which his division shot down a minimum of five enemy aircraft, during the action, he shot down two enemy fighter planes which were making runs on other planes of his division. As a result of his leadership and heroism, five enemy planes were destroyed and a successful rescue effected of the downed pilot from the inland waters of Japan. His shill and courage were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.