The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Thomas George Bee (AFSN: AO-949005), United States Air Force, for gallantry in action as a Pilot with the 49th Fighter-Bomber Group, FIFTH Air Force, while participating in aerial flight over enemy-held territory in a flight of four F-84 aircraft on a close support mission near Pyongyang, Korea, on 13 August 1952. The flight, pre-briefed to attack artillery positions with napalm, was orbiting in an attempt to identify the target when Captain Bee’s aircraft was hit in the nose section by an explosive 45 millimeter shell. As a result of the explosion the aircraft inverted in a burst of flame. Despite the hopelessness of his precarious situation, Captain Bee decided against abandoning the aircraft, and through an outstanding demonstration of carefully executed airmanship maneuvered his crippled aircraft back to home base. The extraordinary coolness, high courage and exceptional pilot skill displayed by Captain Bee during this critical operation reflected great credit upon himself, the FAR EAST Air Forces, and the United States Air Force.