The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Colonel (Air Corps) John H. Gibson (ASN: 0-298256), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy on 20 June 1944. On this date, the Combat Wing of the EIGHTH Air Force commanded by Colonel Gibson spearheaded the entire bombardment force on a hazardous penetration mission deep into enemy territory. Thirty minutes before arriving at the target, they were subjected to a series of vicious attacks by enemy fighters trying desperately to disperse the formation. Approximately two hundred fighters attacked simultaneously, firing rockets as they came in, and pressing home the attack with machine gun and cannon fire. Immediately afterwards, they encountered the heaviest concentration of anti-aircraft fire yet experienced by Colonel Gibson’s units. Despite this all out effort to thwart the attack, he maintained perfect air discipline and courageously led the formation to the objective. Colonel Gibson’s gallantry on this occasion was in a large measure responsible for the devastation wrought on a vital enemy installation.