The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Lieutenant Paul F. Stevens (NSN: 0-98591), United States Navy, for gallantry and intrepidity in action in aerial flight as a Patrol Plane Commander in Patrol-Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED FOUR (PVB-104), in the Southwest Pacific Area on 17 March 1945. After conducting his unescorted long range reconnaissance patrol plane far out over enemy held waters to the China Coast with exceptional professional skill, he successfully pressed home daring and aggressive attacks on an enemy freighter and an enemy aircraft, despite counter-fire of an enemy destroyer. He then made another vital sighting through unusual vigilance of an enemy aircraft, which he destroyed through masterful planning and superb execution, depriving the enemy of the services of a group of its highest ranking officers and officials. His heroic conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Silver Star
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Navy Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States NavyRank:
LieutenantBatallion:
Patrol-Bombing Squadron 104 (VPB-104)Action Date:
November 9 – December 1, 1944
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 Lieutenant Paul F. Stevens (NSN: 0-98591), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. From 9 November to 1 December 1944 while serving as Patrol Plane Commander of a Navy Liberator engaged in long range combat patrols, he capitalized to a maximum on every opportunity to engage the enemy. Far from Morotai Island, his home base and over enemy held waters, Lieutenant Stevens displayed his cool courage and keen professional skill in the destruction of two small vessels, a 6,000-ton AK, and also inflicted severe damage to three other vessels, a lugger and a locomotive. His actions displayed outstanding courage, aggressiveness and high professional skill and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States NavyRank:
LieutenantBatallion:
Patrol-Bombing Squadron 104 (VPB-104)Action Date:
1945
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Paul F. Stevens (NSN: 0-98591), United States Navy, for gallantry and intrepidity in action. While serving as Patrol Plane Commander of a Navy Liberator Plane of Patrol-Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED FOUR (VPB-104), engaged in a long range, unescorted single-plane patrol mission, far out over enemy held waters from his base at Morotai, he displayed his courage and professional skill in making a daring and damaging masthead level attack on a gunboat, a tanker and two merchant ships. The ships and their heavily armed escorts, three destroyers and one destroyer escort, sent up a withering barrage of light, medium and heavy anti-aircraft fire which bracketed his plane, struck the nose section and wounded two of his flight crew. By coolly pressing his attack he bombed and sank a 10,000-ton merchant ship, damaged the other and raked the tanker and gunboat with strafing fire. His courage and conduct throughout were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Navy Cross
Service:
United States NavyRank:
LieutenantBatallion:
Patrol-Bombing Squadron 104 (VPB-104)Action Date:
December 26, 1944
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Paul F. Stevens (NSN: 0-98591), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Commander of a Navy PBY Patrol Plane in Patrol-Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED FOUR (VPB-104), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Mindoro, Philippine Islands. On the night of 26 December 1944. Lieutenant Stevens sighted a large enemy task force en route to Mindoro, Philippine Islands, to attack a base recently established there. Acting on his accurate contact report, the base was alerted, protective aircraft dispatched to the scene, vulnerable targets evacuated and the imminent destruction of the garrison and shipping averted. In addition he contributed a damaging blow to the enemy force by scoring at least two direct hits in a perfectly executed bombing run on the largest vessel in the convoy, a YAMATO type battleship. The keen vigilance, stamina and aggressiveness he displayed in detecting and tracking the convoy for twenty-two hours, and his courage and skill in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire, accounted for the extraordinary magnitude of his accomplishment. His outstanding conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Headquarters, Far East Air Forces, General Orders No. 352 (December 29, 1944)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Army Award) to Lieutenant Paul F. Stevens (NSN: 0-98591), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in sustained operational flight missions in the Southwest Pacific area from 8 August 1943 to 15 November 1943, during which hostile contact was probable and expected. Throughout these operations, outstanding courage and devotion to duty were displayed.