The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander John R. Winkowski, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Pilot in Fighter Squadron FORTY-ONE (VF-41), embarked in U.S.S. INDEPENDENCE (CVA-62), on 14 September 1965. As the flight leader of a two-plane armed reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam, Lieutenant Commander Winkowski used radar navigation and dead reckoning techniques to locate the assigned objective area, despite inclement weather, and descended in total darkness into mountainous terrain. He illuminated the area by releasing parachute flares and discovered a 10-truck convoy. He and his wingman initiated numerous low-angle rocket attacks on the convoy in an area of known anti-aircraft concentrations. Fires and violent secondary explosions, resulting from the destruction of six heavy trucks and damage to the others, could be seen 15 miles away through the heavy overcast. By his courage and skill, Lieutenant Commander Winkowski inflicted maximum damage to the target and thwarted an enemy supply effort which had depended on darkness and inclement weather for its safety.