The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Roland Franklin Bridston (NSN: 0-112538), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as pilot of a Ventura Bomber on 3 January 1944, while on an aerial mining mission in the Marshall Islands. When the channel was sighted, the enemy anti-aircraft batteries, already alerted, were waiting for the mine-laying planes. As the squadron commander’s plane flew through the approach to the channel, a heavy barrage of ack-ack formed an intensive cross fire pattern astern of him. Despite the knowledge that, to reach his objective, he would have to fly through this barrage that railed the lead plane, he unhesitatingly remained in formation and dropped his mine in its assigned position. His courage and skill throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.