The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander Gordon Bernard Bjornson (NSN: 0-98495), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Commanding Officer, Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FOURTEEN (VF-114), on board the U.S.S. PHILIPPINE SEA (CV-47), and Acting Tactical Commander of elements of three squadrons of Carrier Air Group ELEVEN in action against the enemy in the vicinity of Kojo, North Korea, on 1 June 1952. Directed to attack without a ground controller, an area which is restricted to positive control because of its fluctuating proximity to the front and where a small error in defining a target would endanger our front line positions, Lieutenant Commander Bjornson delved into all intelligence reports available, acquiring a clear, concise knowledge of all factors having a bearing upon his mission. He completely prepared his pilots for the attack by thoroughly instructing them in all phases of his formulated plan of attack and retirement. Although forced to fly low to the ground, through mountainous terrain and steadily decreasing visibility, he located the camouflaged target. Maneuvering his aircraft with superb airmanship through intense anti-aircraft fire, he attacked the main section of a huge enemy troop and supply concentration, personally destroying three medium caliber gun positions. He then dropped his napalm bomb in an area containing five large warehouses which were left burning. Continuing his attacks, he destroyed two additional anti-aircraft gun positions and rail switching point with direct bomb hits. While effecting a well-ordered withdrawal from the area, he found and led a strafing attack against the group of an estimated two hundred enemy troops, inflicting numerous casualties. Lieutenant Commander Bjornson’s cool judgment and aggressive leadership in the face of extreme danger were directly responsible for the outstanding accomplishments of the mission and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.