The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant James Thorn Anderson (NSN: 0-116683), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight against enemy forces as the Pilot of a single-seater, carrier-based fighter plane in Fighting Squadron THIRTY-ONE (VF-31), embarked in the U.S.S. CABOT. On 22 September 1944, in the vicinity of the Philippine Islands, Lieutenant Anderson participated as Division Leader in an early morning fighter sweep against a highly important enemy-held airfield. In the face of a substantial amount of anti-aircraft fire he courageously led his division in a low-altitude bombing attack and skillfully scored a direct bomb hit on a group of buildings adjacent to the airfield, starting several fires therein. Afterwards they encountered a group of six enemy planes against which he fearlessly led his division and personally shot down one of the planes, while the planes from his carrier accounted for all six of them. His courageous action, leadership and devotion to duty have contributed greatly to the superb record established by his squadron and have at all times been in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.