(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 First Lieutenant (Air Corps) James Stanley Munsey (ASN: 0-686583), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-24 Heavy Bomber in the 735th Bombardment Squadron, 453d Bombardment Group (H), EIGHTH Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission on 22 April 1944, against enemy targets in the European Theater of Operations. As First Lieutenant Munsey’s Liberator Bomber was returning to its base in England after bombing targets in Germany, it was attacked by German fighter planes over the English Channel. One of the plane’s gas tanks exploded, blowing three of the crew members from the bomber. Although the other five crew members were able to safely parachute from the aircraft, the plane’s communication system was destroyed by the blast of the explosion and that fact was unknown by First Lieutenant Munsey and his co-pilot, who remained at the controls so the other crew members could get out. As a result, First Lieutenant Munsey and his co-pilot continued flying the plane for so long neither of them could use their parachutes and both were killed in the crash. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by First Lieutenant Munsey on this occasion, at the cost of his life, 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.