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) Richard D. Butler, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in operations against the Ploesti Oil Refineries of Romania on 1 August 1943. During this extremely important attack made upon enemy oil refineries, these officers and enlisted men of the 506th Bombardment Squadron 44th Bombardment Group (H), participating in the longest flight ever undertaken by so large a number of B-24 type aircraft. The mission was rendered doubly hazardous by the fact that the attack was made at minimum altitude and the target area was very strongly defended by both anti-aircraft and machine-gun installations and numerous fight craft. Yet so exemplary was the flying skill and valiant determination of these officers and men that the operations were crowned with high success. Their achievements are a tribute to the Forces in which they served.