(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: 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) Elbert W. Weeks (ASN: 0-755808), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-17 Heavy Bomber in the 324th Bombardment Squadron, 91st Bombardment Group (H), EIGHTH Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission on 8 September 1944, against enemy targets in Ludwigshaven, Germany. On that date, during the bomb run First Lieutenant Weeks’ Co-Pilot was mortally wounded and he was painfully wounded. Despite his pain he flew the ship without mentioning his wounds including a broken right hand with severed arteries and a wound in left thigh, until his co-pilot had been taken care of. He then allowed a tourniquet to be placed on his right arm and he landed the ship on a U.S. airstrip in France avoiding bomb craters and a bulldozer on the runway. Too weak from loss of blood, he had to be lifted from the plane, The aircraft was so damaged, it had to be salvaged. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by First Lieutenant Weeks 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.