The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Lyman Middleditch, Jr. (ASN: 0-427759), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-40 Fighter Airplane in the 64th Fighter Squadron, 57th Fighter Group, U.S. Army Forces in the Middle East, in aerial combat against enemy forces over the western desert of Egypt on 27 October 1942. While a member of a formation of fighter aircraft acting as top cover for fighter bombers, Lieutenant Middleditch sighted a formation of enemy fighters. Without thought for his own safety and bearing in mind only his duty to defend our own fighter bombers, he aggressively engaged the enemy and without aid destroyed three Messerschmitt 109s through his superior skill and unerring marksmanship. First Lieutenant Middleditch’s unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.