The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Radioman Third Class Franklin D. Kreeger, United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial combat as radioman/gunner of a Torpedo Plane in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Coral Sea on 7 and 8 May 1942. While subjected to intense anti-aircraft fire, Radioman Third Class Kreeger participated in attacks on enemy aircraft carriers and due to skillful and effective countermeasures against enemy fighters attacking the squadron of which he was a member, two type ’97 enemy fighter planes were shot down and destroyed by rear seat gunfire. These actions and the scoring of a hit on an enemy aircraft carrier on 7 May, which contributed to the destruction of that vessel, were vital factors in the success attained by our forces in the Battle of the Coral Sea.