The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Second Lieutenant Rufus Herman Allen, Jr. (MCSN: 0-37156), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as Pilot of a bomber plane in Marine Bombing Squadron FOUR HUNDRED THIRTEEN in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Bismarck Archipelago area, from 1 to 25 April 1945. Second Lieutenant Allen completed twenty flights in a combat area where enemy anti-aircraft fire was expected to be effective or where enemy aircraft patrols usually occurred. His conduct throughout has distinguished him among those performing duties of the same character.