The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Walter L. Abbott (ASN: 0-737692), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action as a member of the 3d Photo Reconnaissance Squadron, TWENTIETH Air Force, in action on 27 May 1945 as Airplane commander of a B-29 aircraft flying from a base in the Mariana Islands on a photographic reconnaissance mission over the Japanese Empire. Approaching the target, clouds were found to obscure completely all vision over 9000 feet. Lieutenant Abbott, fully aware of the urgency of securing the essential photographs of bomb damage, descended to the base of the clouds, exposing his unaccompanied plane to violent anti-aircraft fire. Completely disregarding his own safety, he made two daring passes through an inferno of flak directly over the heart of Tokyo at the dangerously low altitude of approximately 8500 feet. He skillfully performed evasive tactics and although his aircraft was riddled with holes, no damage was inflicted to the engines of fuel supply. Lieutenant Abbott accomplished a safe return of the valuable film to his home base thereby providing intelligence with the vital information in the shortest possible time. He took extreme risks by remaining so long in the target area and he was able to make important visual observations to supplement the photographs. Lieutenant Abbot’s fearlessness, intrepidity and superior leadership reflect great credit on himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the Army Air Forces.