The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander Robert A. Macpherson, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during three and one-half days of fighting on Bititu Island during World War II. Lieutenant Commander Macpherson made five flights for a total of 16 ours over the island, flying low over enemy defenses in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire. Although his plane was hit at least twelve times and he narrowly escaped injury at least twice, he supplied complete first-hand information of enemy troops movements, gun emplacements and fortifications to the attack force commander and the commanding general.