The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade William Fenton Bailey (NSN: 0-124957), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as pilot of a bombing plane during air operations against Mille, Marshall Islands, on 18 March 1944, and the Palau Islands, on 30 March 1944. At Mille he flew through intense anti-aircraft fire on two separate dive bombing attacks against enemy ground installations. At Palau, shortly after he commenced his dive on an enemy cargo ship, an anti-aircraft shell exploded in the cockpit severely wounding him in the right leg. Despite his wounds he remained calm and retained his presence of mind, thereby saving his plane, his life and the life of his gunner. He immediately released his bomb, pulled out of his dive and instructed his gunner to fly the plane. His gunner piloted the plane for thirty miles while Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Bailey staunched the flow of blood with three bandages. He then flew the plane to a carrier where he made an emergency landing. His coolness, courage, and disregard for his own safety on these occasions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.