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 First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Louis C. Blau, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement in aerial flight. During the period from 1 January 1943 to 15 August 1943, this officer, as pilot of a heavy bomber of the Alaska Defense Command, ELEVENTH Air Force, participated in many attacks on Japanese installations in the Western Aleutians and Northern Kuriles, which necessitated long over-water flights in land based planes. These attacks were pressed home despite strong enemy defense and often under unfavorable weather conditions. The superior airmanship, courage, and devotion to duty displayed by this officer, are in keeping with the finest combat tradition of the Army Air Force.