The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Hulon R. Blakeney (NSN: 0-283959), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. As Patrol Plane Commander of a Ventura Medium Bomber, Lieutenant, Junior Grade Blakeney, having observed the difficulty and meager results of night photography during the increasingly foggy spring weather conditions volunteered with his crew to make daylight photo-reconnaissance flights to the Northern Kuriles. He personally supervised the fitting out of his plane with unprotected bomb bay fuel tanks and special photographic equipment. On 29 May 1944, with full realization of the danger involved due to probable fight and anti-aircraft opposition, and without escort, he made his first daylight sortie over Paramushire and Shimushu. Pictures obtained on this sortie were unsatisfactory because of fog patches over important installations. On 31 May 1944 he made a second unescorted daylight sortie and on this occasion was successful in obtaining excellent photographs of hitherto undiscovered and important installations. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.