Headquarters, 8th Air Force, General Orders No. 59 (February 16, 1944)
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain (Air Corps) George S. Boylan, Jr. (ASN: 0-411924), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while leading a Combat Wing of B-24 Heavy Bombers of the EIGHTH Air Force on a bombing mission over Germany, 30 December 1943. On approaching the target, the formation encountered intense, accurate anti-aircraft fire. Captain Boylan had the choice of making a short turn and thus avoiding the heavy ground fire, or leading his unit through the barrage and bombing simultaneously with a B-17 Wing. Fully realizing the hazards involved, Captain Boylan, without a moment’s hesitation, led his wing through the veritable wall of fire and made the bombing run, abreast of the B-17 formation. A perfect bombing pattern was achieved and great destruction wrought on an important enemy installation.