The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander [then Lieutenant Commander] Gordon Fowler, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Commanding Officer of a Search Squadron in the South Pacific area during World War II. Commander Fowler boldly attacked the enemy and contributed to the destruction of one and probably two enemy fighter planes and one twin-engine bomber. Later he carried out a highly successful mission against an airfield in the northern Solomon Islands.