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) Jesse E. Pettey, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement despite intense anti-aircraft fire while participating in an aerial bombing mission over Linz, Austria, while serving as a B-24 pilot of the 766th Squadron, 461st Bomb Group, Fifteenth Air Force. On January 20, 1944 during a mission to Linz for purposes of destroying rolling stock in the North Main Marshaling Yard, Lieutenant Pettey demonstrated extraordinary flying skills by avoiding a collision with another out of control burning Liberator bomber, thereby saving the lives of his crew members. Although his B-24 was severely damaged by flak and barely able to maintain flight altitude, he and his courageous crew members were able to safely return the aircraft to their home base at Torretta Air Field in Southern Italy. Lieutenant Pettey was also awarded four Air Medals for participating in 35 bombing missions, promoted to the rank of Captain, and was recently presented a French Citation for participating in the Invasion of Southern France.