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 Colonel (Air Corps) Jack Weston Wood (ASN: 0-17488), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Group Commander of a Group of B-24 Heavy Bombers of the 389th Bombardment Group (H), NINTH Air Force (Attached), while participating in a bombing mission on 1 August 1943. Commanding the 389th Bombardment Group, Colonel Wood led it on 1 August 1943 as last element of a daring low level attack against enemy oil refineries and installations at Ploesti, Rumania. This force was assigned a most difficult target which, lying cupped in the mountains, presented the hardest objective to strike on a low-level attack. Arriving in the target area after previous elements had thoroughly alarmed enemy defenses, Colonel Wood experienced difficulty in locating this objective because of low-lying clouds over the mountains, but he disregarded fighter attacks and continued search for the assigned target until found. With outstanding gallantry and despite intense and extremely accurate enemy fire, he led his organization onto the assigned target with such precision and leadership that maximum damage was inflicted upon the refineries. Through his extraordinary heroism and gallant leadership Colonel Wood rendered signal and distinguished service by ensuring destruction of installations vital to enemy prosecution of the war. The heroic leadership, personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Colonel Wood on this occasion, even when confronted with practically certain destruction, exemplified the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.