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) Warren D. Sortomme, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as lead crew of a wing formation of B-24 type aircraft of the 485th Bomb Group, FIFTEENTH Air Force, on a bombing mission against a vital synthetic oil refinery in Germany, on 27 August 1944. Approaching the assigned target the formation encountered severe antiaircraft fire and midway in the bombing run their aircraft suffered several hits that started a fire sweeping through the aircraft’s mid-section. Despite the intensity of the flames and their extremely perilous situation, these men, displaying outstanding team coordination and an utter disregard for personal safety, gallantly remained at their battle stations while the bombing run was successfully completed. The resulting damage to the oil refinery from this heroic action was so great that the plant was rendered incapable of production for many months. These men then displayed exceptional courage and the highest type of devotion to duty remaining in the flaming aircraft while the pilot and co-pilot skillfully flew it from the formation without endangering any of the other bombers. Once clear of the formation these men efficiently and orderly parachuted from the doomed bomber and it is believed that all members of this gallant crew safely reached the ground. By their gallant determination to carry out an assigned duty with utter disregard of personal safety, and their exceptional skill displayed at a time of extreme peril, these men were responsible for the complete destruction of a vast oil refinery. Through this outstanding leadership and devotion to duty, these men have upheld the highest traditions of the Military Service, thereby reflecting great credit upon themselves and the Armed Forces of the United States of America.