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 Major (Air Corps) James Valentine Edmundson (ASN: 0-22573), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight . On 3 August 1942 Major Edmundson, as the flight leader of a flight of three heavy bombardment airplanes, was ordered to bomb enemy installations in the Solomon Islands area. Nearing the target area, his flight was closely and aggressively attacked by seven float type zeros. The three zeros were destroyed on the initial attack of the Japanese and one of Major Edmundson’s planes was lost, along with the crew, when an enemy aircraft, out of control and on fire, crashed into it. Having disorganized the Japanese attack, Major Edmundson took advantage of their confusion and gave chase to one of the fighters, shooting it down. He then continued on his bombing run, despite attacks by the three remaining fighters, and succeeded in bombing his objective.

(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Major (Air Corps) James Valentine Edmundson (ASN: 0-22573), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Fourth Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as Pilot of a Heavy Bomber and Commanding Officer of a Bombing Squadron and subsequently a Bombing Group in the Pacific Theater of Operations and China-Burma-India Theater of Operations during World War II. His devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions 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 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major (Air Corps) James Valentine Edmundson (ASN: 0-22573), United States Army Air Forces, for heroic and extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight as pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Tulagi, Solomon Islands on August 19, 1942. Flying at perilously low altitude through a bursting hail of anti-aircraft fire, Major Edmundson, with cool courage and utter disregard for his own personal safety, scored a 500-pound-bomb hit just abaft the after turret of a Japanese cruiser, setting up a series of violent explosions aboard the vessel and leaving her in a rage of flames. His superb airmanship and loyal devotion to the accomplishment of a highly important objective contributed materially to the success of our forces in the campaign of the Solomon Islands

(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Major (Air Corps) James Valentine Edmundson (ASN: 0-22573), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as Pilot of a Heavy Bomber and Commanding Officer of a Bombing Squadron and subsequently a Bombing Group in the Pacific Theater of Operations and China-Burma-India Theater of Operations during World War II. His devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Major (Air Corps) James Valentine Edmundson (ASN: 0-22573), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Silver Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Sixth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as Pilot of a Heavy Bomber and Commanding Officer of a Bombing Squadron and subsequently a Bombing Group in the Pacific Theater of Operations and China-Burma-India Theater of Operations during World War II. His devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.