The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander David M. Longton, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 21 February 1962. As Pilot of a Navy all-weather fighter aircraft, the F4H-1 Phantom II, Commander Longton succeeded in establishing a new world class record for time to climb to 6,000 meters, attaining a time of 48.787 seconds from a standing start to 6,000 meters altitude. Through his exceptional achievement, he clearly demonstrated the inherent capabilities and the maximum performance of a most important aircraft of the U.S. Navy. In addition, he was instrumental in focusing world attention on the continued significant development of the science of aviation in the United States.