The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Thomas E. Blount (NSN: 0-100359), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in operations against units of the Japanese Fleet on 24 July 1945 at the Kobe Naval Base and Osaka, Honshu, Japan. Leading a flight of four carrier-based fighter planes through adverse weather conditions to the target, where the weather was found to be suitable for photography, he made repeated photo-runs in spite of very intense and accurate, heavy anti-aircraft fire which hit and damaged one of the planes. On retirement, he made an effective strafing attack on a 4,000-ton freighter-transport. The photos taken were exceptional and contributed materially to operations against the enemy. His courage and skill were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.