The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Merl William Davenport, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Fighter Pilot in Fighting Squadron SEVENTEEN (VF-17), in action on 6 November 1943, off the southwest coast of Bougainville. Lieutenant Davenport placed his four-plane division in a position which resulted in the speedy destruction of a Japanese bomber. On 18 November, while proceeding on a dawn attack on an enemy airfield, he rescued a comrade who had been shot down at sea the day before. In action against six enemy fighter planes on 21 November 1943, his squadron shot down all six Japanese planes. He, himself, shot down two planes.