The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Colonel (Air Corps) John Stewart Mills (AFSN: 357A/)-17106), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as Command Pilot of a Bomber Airplane and as Commanding Officer of the 450th Bombardment Group (Heavy), FIFTEENTH Air Force, in aerial operations over Rumania, on 15 April 1944. Colonel Mills was wing leader of a formation of five heavy bombardment groups on a vital mission to bomb an enemy oil production and rail center in Rumania. An intense fog delated the take-off for two hours, but in spite of this initial set-back, realizing the importance of the target, Colonel Mills was determined to carry out the assigned mission. Approaching the target area the formation was intercepted by approximately 90 enemy fighters which made coordinated attacks from all sides of the formation. Despite the persistence of these fighter attacks, the intense barrage of enemy flak, and the partial concealment of the target by a smoke screen, Colonel Mills remained on course, bringing his formation through for an extremely successful bombing run, which resulted in the destruction of one distillation unit, four storage tanks, a car loading station, and covered the target with forty-seven direct hits. In addition to the bombing damage caused by his superior and gallant leadership of the formation, the lead group alone destroyed 27 enemy aircraft in the air with our losses held to a minimum. By his extraordinary professional skill and superior leadership, in carrying out a mission of the highest strategic importance despite opposition and adverse conditions, Colonel Mills has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.