The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Matthew L. Vinson, Jr. (ASN: 0-729934), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as Copilot of a B-17 airplane of the EIGHTH Air Force, on 19 August 1943. Lieutenant Vinson’s aircraft caught fire just after taking off for a bombing mission. When the oxygen system blew up and literally engulfed the plane in flames, the order was given to abandon ship. As his parachute had been destroyed by the explosion, he was trapped in the burning airplane. Realizing the danger of landing the burning, bomb-laden airplane near a thickly populated community, Lieutenant Vinson, knowing that the bombs might explode at any moment, courageously flew the plane to the coast and landed it on the beach. Though suffering extreme pain from severe burns on his face and hands, he had the presence of mind to warn civilians away from the burning aircraft, which exploded a short time later. The courage and exceptional flying skill displayed by Lieutenant Vinson saved many innocent people from probable injury or death and his actions reflect highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.