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) David W. Ecoff, Sr., United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Air Flight Commander, 20th Combat Mapping Squadron, 6th Photographic Group Reconnaissance, on 24 October 1944. On that date, while flying a routine mapping mission to Southern Luzon, Lieutenant Ecoff sighted a fleet of Japanese ships in the waters below. He secured vital photographic reconnaissance information and accurate radio broadcasting which proved vital to the subsequent Allied naval victory and progress of Allied landings. This sighting proved to be instrumental to the outset and subsequent victory in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle engagement in terms of tonnage. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Ecoff reflect great credit upon himself and the Unites States Army Air Corps.