The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Edwin William Allard (MCSN: 0-8029), United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as pilot attached to Marine Photographic Squadron ONE FIFTY-FOUR operating in the Solomon Islands area from November 1942 to August 1943. During the battles for Guadalcanal and New Georgia, from November through August 1943, Captain Allard made more than 50 combat photographic and reconnaissance missions as a pilot totaling over 475 hours. Many of these flights were over 2,000 miles in length, and several were made in the face of extremely hazardous weather conditions. His plane constantly mapped enemy territory and areas required for further advances by our ground forces, without fighter cover, and in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire and occasional aerial opposition. In December 1942, Captain Allard piloted one of the planes that took the photographs of New Georgia, which led to the discovery of the construction of the Munda airfield. The information obtained from all of the missions described, has been of inestimable value and assistance to the Allied Forces in the pursuance of the war against Japan. Captain Allard’s conduct was distinguished throughout by outstanding devotion to duty and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.