Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant, Junior Grade

    Batallion:

    Composite Squadron 3 (VC-3)

    Division:

    U.S.S. Oriskany (CVA-34)

    Action Date:

    November 17, 1952

    Commander 7th Fleet: Serial 835 (May 7, 1953)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Clarence L. Baldwin, Jr., United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a pilot of a night fighter plane of Composite Squadron THREE, attached to the U.S.S. ORISKANY CVA-34), on 17 November 1952. While flying a night heckler combat mission over Communist-held North Korea in the Hamhung area, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Baldwin piloted his aircraft during the hours of total darkness and reduced visibility and over mountainous terrain to personally destroy twenty trucks and damage several others with concentrated bombing and twenty millimeter cannon fire. On the initial strafing attack, secondary explosions occurred and were observed by his wingman and other night hecklers in the area. Intense fires from the exploding trucks and burning gasoline illuminated a fifty truck convoy and enabled repeated attacks to be made, although intense anti-aircraft fire was encountered. By these attacks which were made without regard for his own personal safety, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Baldwin contributed materially to the night interdiction efforts of the United Nations Forces against the enemy. His action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.