(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant John Francis Mahoney (ASN: 31312836), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while assigned as Right Waist Gunner on a B-24 Heavy Bomber in the 700th Bombardment Squadron, 445th Bombardment Group (H), EIGHTH Air Force, in action against enemy forces from 22 April to 6 September 1944. Staff Sergeant Mahoney’s bomber was damaged by flak on a bombing mission over Koblenz and the crew was ordered to bail out over Belgium. Although most of the crew was captured by the Germans, Staff Sergeant Mahoney and Sergeant James Cockriel evaded and made contact with a local resistance group in Ingooigem, Belgium. They joined the organization by actively participating in the resistance movement, engaging in sabotage of the enemy for five months. On September 6, 1944, the two men and a group of 20 partisans planned to join a nearby British tank patrol unit already engaged in combat, when they were captured by German soldiers. Staff Sergeant Mahoney and three Belgians died in an machinegun execution by the Germans. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, displayed by Staff Sergeant Mahoney on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.