The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Roy Alph Bechtol (ASN: 0-251371), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Bechtol participated in eleven missions of which six were bombing and strafing attacks against the Bonin Islands, and on 15 June 1944, he shot down an enemy fighter over Iwo Jima. In the air battle near Guam on 19 June 1944, he shot down two enemy fighters. In the strike against the Japanese Fleet on 20 June 1944, he scored a bomb hit on a carrier of the HAYATAKA Class. Finally, he participated in a bombing and strafing attack against Pagan Island. He was killed in action.