The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Ensign Paul Hobart Whitford (NSN: 0-378604), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Bomber in Bombing Squadron SIX (VB-6), attached to the U.S.S. HANCOK (CV-19), in attacks on major Japanese Fleet units including battleships, aircraft carriers, and cruisers, in Kure Harbor, Japan, on 28 July 1945. Ensign Whitford skillfully and courageously piloted his aircraft through intense anti-aircraft fire, from both the enemy warships in the harbor and the many gun emplacements on shore. He scored a direct bomb hit on the battleship assigned him as a target contributing materially to the heavy and extensive damage done this warship which later settled to the bottom of the harbor. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.