The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Aviation Ordnanceman Second Class William E. Brooks, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a member of the aircrew of a U.S. Navy Patrol Bombing Aircraft engaged in anti-submarine operations in the Bay of Biscay and the Western Approaches to the United Kingdom during the period 27 August 1943 to 25 June 1944, when enemy fighter aircraft patrols were usually expected to be encountered in this area. Twenty flights were completed in this active combat area as aircrewman.