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) Donald George Westerbeke (ASN: 0-663973), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Co-Pilot of a B-24 Heavy Bomber in the 566th Bombardment Squadron, 389th Bombardment Group (H), NINTH Air Force (Attached), while participating in a bombing mission on 1 August 1943, against the Ploesti Oil Refineries in Rumania. During this mission, while the bomber in which he was serving was over target, it was hit by very heavy ground fire, so that one of the engines was disabled and had to be feathered. Although bombers were flying at approximately 200 feet altitude, Lieutenant Westerbeke and the pilot kept the plane in formation and proceeded over the target, dropping their bombs squarely on it. They safely piloted it back to a base after a round trip of nearly 2,400 miles. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by First Lieutenant Westerbeke on this occasion, even when confronted with practically certain destruction, exemplified the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.