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 Gibian, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in the European Theater of Operations. On 25 December 1944 an intense barrage of enemy fire met Lieutenant Gibian and his squadron when they approached the airfield at Bonn, Germany. Lieutenant Gibian, undaunted by the terrific assault, calmly circled the objective in order to select the most desirable targets. Spotting four enemy aircraft parked in a dispersal area, Lieutenant Gibian courageously led his squadron in at very low altitude and destroyed the four airplanes. Enemy fire continued at a great intensity, but Lieutenant Gibian continued his skillful attacks and bombed again and again until a hangar and an important fuel dump were also destroyed. His tactical ability and courage in the face of danger are of the greatest credit to Lieutenant Gibian and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the Army Air Forces.