The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Wallace Leonard Dinn (ASN: 0-431949), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-38 Fighter Airplane in the 339th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group, THIRTEENTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces from 7 October 1942 through 5 January 1943. On 15 October, he engaged with seven other United States airplanes in a dive bombing mission against an enemy task force off Guadalcanal. He scored a direct hit on one of the Japanese ships, which caught fire and sank. On 28 October 1942, Lieutenant Dinn took off with a formation of planes to attack the Japanese seaplane base at Rekata Bay, on Santa Isabel Island 165 miles from the United States base at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. After aiding in the destruction of 6 Japanese float planes and possibly two others on the water, Lieutenant Dinn spotted an enemy gasoline dump of about 1,500 gallons on the beach. The first burst of fire started a blaze in the dump which was hastened by another burst of gunfire from Lieutenant Dinn’s plane. Anti-aircraft fire then hit his plane and seriously damaged it as well as injuring him. He managed to bail out and land in the jungle in enemy territory. Natives assisted him on his return journey and told him of a Japanese airman who also had crash-landed in the area. They captured the Japanese pilot and made a 110-mile trip by canoe to safety. One time the Japanese overturned the canoe and escaped but was re-captured. Eight days after his forced landing, Lieutenant Dinn was back on flying status. Later he was again forced down at sea. After swimming several miles, he reached a small island, was picked up and back on flying status the next day. On 5 January 1943, he was flying with an escort for heavy bombers. While over the target, Lieutenant Dinn noticed that the fighters at lower altitude were engaged with enemy aircraft of greater numerical superiority. Despite the overwhelming odds, he proceeded to the assistance of his fellow pilots. In the ensuing engagement he was shot down and is listed as “missing in action” in the South Pacific. Lieutenant Dinn’s unselfish act contributed in great part to the success of the mission and undoubtedly saved the lives of several other pilots. Lieutenant Dinn participated in fifty operational air flights, totaling 92 hours of flight during which enemy fire was probable and expected. His combat career was marked by complete fearlessness and contributed materially to the success of operations in the area. First Lieutenant Dinn’s unquestionable valor in aerial combat, at the cost of his life, is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 13th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.