The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant [then Lieutenant, Junior Grade] Robert Church Dykins, United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Patrol Plane Commander of a Mariner Aircraft, engaged in a hazardous night mission over enemy Japanese waters, Northeast of Hong Kong, on the night of 1 – 2 April 1945. Despite the threat of effective anti-aircraft fire from the target ship, another ship near by and coastal batteries, Lieutenant Dykins executed a series of daring and tenacious strafing attacks upon a 10,000-ton enemy tanker and then successfully bombed the ship at masthead level, thereby causing it to break in two and sink. In a fourth attack, he strafed a schooner and scored many hits upon the enemy ship. His airmanship, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.