The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Edwin Lewis Heller (ASN: 0-797827/FR-9900), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement and heroism while participating in aerial flight in the destruction of five enemy airplanes in aerial combat over enemy occupied Continental Europe. The skillful and zealous manner in which Lieutenant Heller 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.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Edwin Lewis Heller (ASN: 0-797827/FR-9900), United States Army Air Forces, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on the return from Gifhorn, Germany, 8 May 1944. Lieutenant Heller was flying wing position to the flight leader when he observed twenty-plus ME-109’s attacking the lead box of bombers, which his P-51 group was covering on withdrawal support. Lieutenant Heller broke away on the signal for attack and destroyed an ME-109 that had started to break for the deck. By this time, being fairly low, he looked up and noticed several of the bandits coming down on him. Lieutenant Heller picked one out and went up to meet him. He got the first burst in and observed strikes on the enemy’s fuselage. The Hun used violent evasive action when he started trailing smoke, but Lieutenant Heller pursued him down to the deck and they both went into a Luftberry at 140 M.P.H. The German pilot straightened out and prepared to crash-land. Lieutenant Heller, taking full advantage of this position, gave the ME-109 additional short bursts, forcing the enemy aircraft into a bridge where he saw him crash into a river below. All of this was accomplished while at least fifteen more enemy aircraft were in the vicinity. During the engagement, the coolant of his plane was lost and he returned to home base with exceedingly poor engine performance. The courage, coolness and skill displayed by Lieutenant Heller, plus his fierce determination to destroy the enemy, reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Edwin Lewis Heller (ASN: 0-797827/FR-9900), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in accomplishing fifty fighter combat missions, or the equivalent thereof, over enemy occupied Continental Europe. The skillful and zealous manner in which this Officer has sought out the enemy and engaged him in aerial combat, 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.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Fourth Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Edwin Lewis Heller (ASN: 0-797827/FR-9900), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement and heroism while participating in aerial flight in the destruction of three enemy airplanes, and for sharing in the destruction of one enemy airplane over enemy occupied Continental Europe. The skillful and zealous manner in which Lieutenant Heller 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.