The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Captain Loyd V. Berkner (NSN: 0-60932), United States Naval Reserve, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States in the Radio and Electrical Group of the Bureau of Aeronautics from September 1941 to September 1945, culminating in his exceptionally able execution of duties since April 1945 as head of the Electronics Material Branch. Charged with the responsibility of providing fleet aircraft with new and improved electronic weapons in the shortest possible time, he displayed keen foresight in envisioning the tactical potential of laboratory developments and exercised forceful leadership in bringing to fruition the myriad electronic programs of World War II. Through his efforts, separate groups of civilian scientists were molded together into a smooth working organization which functioned in cooperation with the Bureau of Aeronautics to supply a maximum amount of experimental data in a minimum period. Under his inspiring guidance, laboratory facilities for experimentation and test agencies for evaluation of new developments were established and successfully provided in an incredibly short time and new weapons required to counter changing enemy tactics. He was responsible in great part for the expeditious engineering of electronic devices which provided protection against submarine and air attacks to a degree never before possible and which vastly increased the striking power of carrier-based and patrol aircraft in night and day offensives in the Pacific. His penetrating insight into tactical requirement, his resourceful formulation of far-reaching policies and his unwavering fidelity to duty in the execution of difficult responsibilities have made a notable contribution to the effectiveness of fleet operations and reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.