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 First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Andrew Jackson Ritchey (ASN: 0-763734), 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 353d Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, NINTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 2 April 1945, while leading a single wingman in a weather reconnaissance mission over Western Germany. On this date, Lieutenant Ritchey engaged enemy fighter aircraft in the vicinity of an enemy airdrome and destroyed two of them. Shortly thereafter, although he had expended much of his ammunition, he led his wingman in an aggressive attack on more than ninety FW 190’s. Attacking relentlessly, despite the fact that he was completely surrounded by the hostile fighters, Lieutenant Ritchey destroyed an additional enemy aircraft while the balance of the enemy formation fled in rout. The extraordinary heroism and determination of this officer to destroy the enemy is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.