The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Warren B. Matthew, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in the South Pacific on 25 October 1942. Contacting a large Japanese naval force, he closed upon the enemy and obtained vital information as to the size, course, and speed of the hostile units. Attacked by three seaplanes, he maneuvered with such skill that he successfully shot down one of the enemy planes, eluded the others and returned to his base, landing his entire crew without injury.