Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Action Date:

    June 22, 1945

    Citation Courtesy of the Distinguished Flying Cross Society – www.dfcsociety.org

    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) Alva R. Davis, Jr., United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight 22 June 1945. These individuals were combat crew members of a B-29 aircraft flying on a daylight bombing attack from a base in the Marianas against the Kawanishi aircraft company plant at Hime ji, Japan. The approach to the target was made in the face of closely-pressed fighter attacks and accurate flak. Despite these hazards, they maintained a close formation, dropping their bombs with great accuracy. Post-strike photographs showed that the entire factory was either destroyed or damaged. Each member of this crew coordinated his efforts in a superior manner to obtain these outstanding results. The skill, courage, and airmanship demonstrated by these veterans of repeated assaults against the Japanese homeland reflect great credit on themselves and the Army Air Forces.