The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander Donald R. Mayer, United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Aircraft Commander of a Patrol Plane in Electronic Countermeasures Squadron ONE during a routine training mission over international waters in the Sea of Japan on 16 June 1959. When two MiG fighter-aircraft of unknown nationality suddenly executed a series of attacks against his plane, inflicting extensive and severe damage, Lieutenant Commander Mayer skillfully directed the jettisoning of equipment in order to maintain his aircraft in flight for 300 miles to Miho Air Base, Japan, where a safe landing was made.