The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Ensign Charles B. Irvine, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while piloting a dive bomber in company with one other similar plane during an aerial attack on Japanese Naval forces near the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October 1942. Ensign Irvine succeeded in fighting off or evading numerous enemy defending fighters and in scoring a direct hit on the flight deck of a large enemy carrier of the SHOKAKU class. In retiring after the attack, he and his gunner courageously and successfully defended their plane against the attacks of numerous enemy fighters, sending one down in flames. Although his plane was damaged by enemy gunfire, Ensign Irvine landed safely aboard his carrier.