The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Royce Whitman Priest (ASN: 0-816831), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-51 Fighter Airplane in the 354th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 18 August 1944, while leading the second element in the lead squadron on a dive-bombing mission over enemy occupied Europe. When his Squadron Commander’s airplane was hit by flak and forced down in enemy territory, Lieutenant Priest, seeing his leader’s plight, landed, threw out his parachute and dinghy, and took off with his Commander as passenger, both returning safely to base. The extreme courage of Lieutenant Priest’s rescue has been an inspiration to his fellow officers and reflects highest credit upon himself and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, reflecting great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.
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Awards Received
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Second Lieutenant (Air Corps)Batallion:
354th Fighter SquadronRegiment:
355th Fighter GroupDivision:
8th Air ForceAction Date:
World War II
War Department General Orders No. 43 (January 29, 1945)(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Royce Whitman Priest (ASN: 0-816831), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a P-51 Fighter Pilot of the 354th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in action against the enemy in aerial combat in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Second Lieutenant (Air Corps)Batallion:
354th Fighter SquadronRegiment:
355th Fighter GroupDivision:
8th Air ForceAction Date:
World War II
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Royce Whitman Priest (ASN: 0-816831), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a P-51 Fighter Pilot of the 354th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in action against the enemy in aerial combat in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.