The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade (Chief Aviation Machinist’s Mate] Clarence J. Bannowsky, Jr. (NSN: 0-204391/3598043), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Bannowsky was 3d Pilot of a Patrol Plane piloted by Lieutenant, Junior Grade, C. H. Holt, USN, performing reconnaissance duties on 16 January 1942, when they were intercepted and shot down by enemy aircraft. After giving the order to abandon ship, the patrol plane commander left by parachute. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Bannowsky observed that other members of the crew were unable to jump because of insufficient altitude, and he crawled back into the plane in order to attempt a landing. Although lacking in lateral control because all fabric surfaces had been torn off, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Bannowsky succeeded in landing and saving the lives of three other crew members.