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) Sidney Ward Dunagan (ASN: 0-525079), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a Troop Carrier Airplane in the 50th Troop Carrier Squadron, 314th Troop Carrier Group, NINTH Air Force, on 6 June 1944. On this date, while leading his element in the initial invasion of France, due to cloud formations over enemy territory, Lieutenant Dunagan’s airplane became separated from his entire group and was forced to continue to the Drop Zone in a single ship. Excellent navigation without radio aid enabled him to locate the Drop Zone and to drop his paratroopers in the briefed zone. Intense enemy ground fire enveloped his airplane immediately thereafter, as a result of which the ship sustained damage. Lieutenant Dunagan was notified by his Crew Chief that two paratroopers had failed to jump due to entangling of their chutes. Determined to complete his assigned mission, with utter disregard for his personal safety and fully cognizant of dangers to be encountered, he unhesitatingly put his ship into a three hundred sixty degree turn to the right to drop his remaining troopers. This accomplished, violent enemy ground fire was again encountered, and while engaged in evasive action and at an altitude of one hundred feet, defenseless in an unarmored plane, enemy cross fire struck and instantly killed him. The outstanding heroism displayed by Lieutenant Dunagan, his disregard for personal safety, and devotion to duty, reflect highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.