(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Air Corps) William Staats Rader, United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber of the 368th Bombardment Squadron, 306th Bombardment Group (Heavy), EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial operations on one of the first deep penetration daylight raids over Europe in 1943. Captain Rader took his unit, unescorted by the shorter range fighters, to a point more than 200 miles southeast of Paris. Despite heavy enemy fire, which knocked out two of his aircraft’s engines and the manual elevator controls, he bombed the primary target and made it back to England on automatic pilot. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Captain Rader, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.