The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Frederick Kent Blatchford (NSN: 0-124400), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in operations against the enemy 13 November 1944, in the Philippine Islands. As a member of a flight of dive bombers he participated in a coordinated dive bombing attack against a large enemy merchant vessel. Flying through intense anti-aircraft fire, he contributed to hits on the enemy which, which sank. His courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.