The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Robert Bernard Appel (NSN: 0-438414), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 28 July 1951. Lieutenant Appel serving with Composite Squadron THREE (VC-3), Detachment CHARLIE, attached to Carrier Air Group ONE HUNDRED TWO on board the U.S.S. BON HOMME RICHARD (CVA-31), led a section of two F$U-5NL aircraft on a pre-dawn night heckler mission over hostile North Korean territory on a strike against enemy communication and railroad facilities. Sighting an enemy locomotive with six cars attached leaving the railroad yard at Pukchong he took immediate action leading and directing a series of five bombing rocket and strafing attacks which resulted in the destruction of the locomotive and six boxcars along with severe damage to other boxcars, starting numerous fires, and destroying and damaging enemy anti-aircraft gun emplacements. He was personally credited with the destruction of the locomotive and six boxcars, one gun emplacement and inflicting damage to other enemy facilities. Continuing the mission he attacked and inflicted heavy damage on two other railroad marshalling yards and a group of enemy vehicles personally destroying four trucks. Lieutenant Appel, by his skilled airmanship and resolute courage in the face of enemy fire, led his flight to score in the destruction and damage of many vital and sorely needed enemy communication facilities. His actions were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.