The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Phillip Cunliffe DeLong (MCSN: 0-16434), United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Fighter Pilot attached to Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWELVE (VMF-212), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands Area on 15 February 1944. Serving as patrol over our landings on Green Island when a large formation of hostile bombers was discovered approaching our shipping off shore, First Lieutenant DeLong unhesitatingly dove through friendly anti-aircraft fire to intercept the attacking planes. Despite overwhelming odds, he fought his plane with outstanding technical skill and, bringing his gun to bear with deadly accuracy, succeeded in shooting three Japanese bombers down in flames and dispersing the remainder before damage could be inflicted upon our units. First Lieutenant DeLong’s expert airmanship and resolute devotion to duty in the face of grave peril were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.




