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The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Rolla Stuart Lemmon (NSN: 0-79020), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while returning to his carrier after leading a successful assault on Sawar, New Guinea, on 21 April 1944. Lieutenant Lemmon detected a Japanese bomber which was attacking an American task force, and destroyed the plane. Later the same day he shot down another bomber and destroyed a barge loaded with Japanese soldiers, killing about 20 of them.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Commander

    Batallion:

    Fighting Squadron 3 (VF-3)

    Division:

    U.S.S. Lexington (CV-2)

    Action Date:

    World War II
    Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 334 (January 1945)

    The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Commander Rolla Stuart Lemmon (NSN: 0-79020), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Executive Officer of Fighting Squadron THREE (VF-3), embarked in U.S.S. LEXINGTON (CV-2) near the Kazan Islands during World War II. Lieutenant Commander Lemmon led a small formation of fighters against a numerically superior force of enemy bombers attempting to close in on one of our task groups. He accounted for one of the seven planes destroyed by his formation before he himself was forced down.

  • Navy Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant

    Batallion:

    Fighting Squadron 3 (VF-3)

    Division:

    U.S.S. Lexington (CV-2)

    Action Date:

    February 20, 1942

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Rolla Stuart Lemmon (NSN: 0-79020), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron THREE (VF3), attached to the U.S.S. LEXINGTON (CV-2), in action against enemy forces in the Pacific War Area when his ship was attacked by eighteen Japanese bombing planes on 20 February 1942. In the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire, Lieutenant Lemmon intercepted a formation of nine enemy aircraft and succeeded in shooting down one twin-engine bomber and aided in shooting down another. Lieutenant Lemmon’s outstanding courage, daring airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.