The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Ensign Tommy Lee Burgess (NSN: 0-506762), United States Navy, for outstanding and heroic service in the performance of duty in an aerial flight as a member of the aircrew of a United States Navy Privateer airplane (PB4Y2) during a flight over the Baltic Sea, 8 April 1950. Taking off in an unarmed patrol plane from Wiesbaden, Germany, on 8 April, Ensign Burgess participated in a flight over the Baltic Sea. Performing his assigned tasks with courage and skill on this peacetime mission from which his plane failed to return, he rendered outstanding service to the Navy and to his country. His performance of duty under hazardous flight conditions reflects great credit upon Ensign Burgess and upholds the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.