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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 Commander Norman Mickey Miller (NSN: 0-70091), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Commanding Officer of Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED NINE (VB-109), in action against the enemy on 21 April 1944. While flying a regular search mission through the Caroline Islands he attacked and destroyed the only building left intact from other raids on Ulul Island, Nemonuito Atoll. He then proceeded to Igup Island and dropped an incendiary cluster which set fire to a large building and a fifty foot boat which was drawn up on the beach. He next flew to Ruo Island where he found five small coastal vessels anchored in the lagoon. He bombed and strafed these craft until three of them were burned and gutted and the other two seriously crippled, oil streaming from large holes in their hulls and debris from them strewing the water. Anti-aircraft fire received a the onset of the attack on these vessels was ineffective and no damage resulted to his plane. Commander Miller then proceeded to Murfillo Island where two coastal vessels and a patrol craft were discovered. These appeared to be naval auxiliaries. Devastating bombing and strafing runs on these ships caused them to get underway and run for a reef where two of them beached themselves; the third failed to reach the reef, she shuddered under several violent explosions, stopped, and was engulfed in flames. The beached ships were strafed until they were set afire and abandoned by their crews. Having expended all his bombs and the majority of his ammunition, he returned to base after nearly fifteen hours in the air. By his heroic conduct on this mission, he wrought severe damage upon the enemy and his daring and tenacity were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Commander

    Batallion:

    Patrol-Bombing Squadron 109 (VPB-109)

    Action Date:

    July 14, 1944
    Commander Force Area Central Pacific: Serial 4883 (May 30, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Commander Norman Mickey Miller (NSN: 0-70091), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commander of a Navy PB4Y Patrol Plane Commanding Officer of Patrol-Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED NINE (VPB-109), in action on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 14 July 1944. Commander Miller made successful attacks on enemy shipping, shore installations, and airfields despite intense, accurate and effective anti-aircraft fire which damaged his airplane. His cool courage, his consummate skill as an airman, his outstanding devotion to duty and aggressive fighting spirit were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Commander

    Batallion:

    Patrol-Bombing Squadron 109 (VPB-109)

    Action Date:

    June 2, 1944
    Commander Task Force 57: Serial 1467 (August 27, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Third Gold Star in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander Norman Mickey Miller (NSN: 0-70091), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of a Liberator Bomber which on 2 June 1944, while on regular search through the northern Caroline Islands, made a successful single-plane attack on enemy shipping in Truk Harbor. In the face of intense enemy fire, he conducted a series of attacks on enemy shipping, shore installations, and airfields which resulted in the destruction of a seven thousand ton cargo vessel by two direct bomb hits and a close miss, severe damage to two smaller vessels, slight damage to three others, destruction to an ammunition dump, damage to buildings, gun positions, and an airplane on the ground. His aggressiveness, disregard for danger, and devotion to duty throughout this outstandingly successful attack were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Commander

    Batallion:

    Patrol-Bombing Squadron 109 (VPB-109)

    Action Date:

    July 20, 1944
    Commander Force Area Central Pacific: Serial 4883 (May 30, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Silver Star in lieu of a Sixth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander Norman Mickey Miller (NSN: 0-70091), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on Chichi Jima and Haha Jima, and Iwo Jima, on 20 July 1944. Commander Miller successfully attacked enemy shipping, shore installations, aircraft, and airfields despite intense, accurate and effective anti-aircraft fire which damaged his plane. His actions throughout were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Commander

    Batallion:

    Bombing Squadron 109 (VB-109)

    Action Date:

    April 17 – 21, 1944
    Commander in Chief Pacific: Serial 03596 (July 30, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander Norman Mickey Miller (NSN: 0-70091), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Commanding Officer of Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED NINE (VB-109) and Patrol Plane Commander of a patrol bomber plane engaged in a secret and hazardous mission essential to the operations of United States Naval Forces in the Central Pacific Area during the period 17 to 21 April 1944. He led his air group with distinguished skill and fearless courage and successfully completed the dangerous mission which he had been assigned. His actions throughout were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Commander

    Batallion:

    Bombing Squadron 109 (VB-109)

    Action Date:

    March 25, 1944
    Commander in Chief Pacific: Serial 02633 (June 20, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander Norman Mickey Miller (NSN: 0-70091), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Commanding Officer of Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED NINE (VB-109), in action against the enemy on 25 March 1944. While flying a regular search mission through the eastern Caroline Islands, he approached the Island of Ponape, where he photographed and effectively strafed enemy installations. He sighted a Japanese coastal vessel off shore where he attacked at masthead level. Under the impact of his bombs and strafing it blew up and sank immediately, leaving nothing visible on the water but debris. He then proceeded to Pakin Island where he located and attacked another enemy coastal vessel. This craft turned into the reef and beached itself. It was strafed and set afire and when last seen was burning fiercely from bow to stern. He next attacked Nikilap Island with incendiary clusters and when he finished his runs all buildings there were ablaze. These attacks were conducted with outstanding vigor and persistence and his actions throughout were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

  • Navy Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Commander

    Batallion:

    Patrol-Bombing Squadron 109 (VPB-109)

    Action Date:

    May 16, 1944
    Commander Task Force 57: Serial 1467 (August 27, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Norman Mickey Miller (NSN: 0-70091), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Commander of a Navy PB4Y Patrol Plane Commanding Officer of Patrol-Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED NINE (VPB-109), in action on 16 May 1944, at Truk Lagoon. As Pilot of a PB4Y Liberator bomber, he flew a long range search mission through the northern Carolines, then proceeded to Truk to investigate shipping anchored in the lagoon. He immediately attacked a five thousand ton cargo vessel at masthead height. Flying from stem to bow he dropped three bombs close aboard, heavily damaging the enemy ship. He then made a similar attack, under increasingly intense enemy fire, on a ten thousand ton tanker, which resulted in a great explosion which completely destroyed the large vessel. He then proceeded to Puluwat, still at minimum altitude, where he surprised a party of Japanese on the airfield and by strafing killed more than thirty of them and demolished their truck. By a direct bomb hit he completely destroyed a revetment. He attacked a radio station, obtaining two direct hits. While he was making a second successful attack on the radio station, during which he obtained four direct hits, a Japanese anti-aircraft shell burst just above the plane, nearly demolishing the cockpit and wounding both Commander Miller and his co-pilot. Despite shock and profuse bleeding, and with his plane severely damaged, he flew the plane safely back to base, over eight hundred miles distant. His cool courage, his consummate skill as an airman, his outstanding devotion to duty and aggressive fighting spirit were an inspiration to the squadron under his command and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Commander

    Batallion:

    Patrol-Bombing Squadron 109 (VPB-109)

    Action Date:

    July 18, 1944
    Commander Force Area Central Pacific: Serial 4883 (May 30, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Fourth Gold Star in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander Norman Mickey Miller (NSN: 0-70091), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on Chichi Jima and Haha Jima, Bonin Islands, on 18 July 1944. Commander Miller successfully attacked enemy shipping, shore installations, aircraft, and airfields despite intense, accurate and effective anti-aircraft fire which damaged his plane. His actions throughout were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.