The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Gerald Wayne McKinley (NSN: 0-655021), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of an A-1 aircraft in Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED FIFTEEN (VA-215), operating from U.S.S. HANCOCK (CVA-19) during a strike on the Vinh Son radar installation in North Vietnam on 31 March 1965. After completing two high altitude bombing runs, and after other aircraft had retired from the area, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, McKinley began his final attack, a low altitude bombing run. As he sought to destroy the strategically located target, his aircraft was destroyed by heavily concentrated small arms and automatic weapons fire.