The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Cecil H. Quesseth (ASN: 0-752144), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-38 Lightning Fighter Airplane of the 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, FIFTEENTH Air Force, in aerial operations in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, on 18 May 1944. On that date, Second Lieutenant Quesseth was escorting heavy bombers in a mission against enemy installations in Rumania when the bombers were attacked by 25 enemy fighters. Sighting a lone crippled B-17 being repeatedly attacked by eight hostile fighters, Second Lieutenant Quesseth, though outnumbered two-to-one, courageously led his comrades to the aid of this bomber. Engaging this superior number of enemy fighters, Second Lieutenant Quesseth led his comrades with such gallantry, sound judgment, and aggressiveness, that five of these enemy were destroyed and the remaining three dispersed. Second Lieutenant Quesseth personally destroyed one of these hostile fighters. When the crew safely parachuted from this crippled bomber, Second Lieutenant Quesseth returned to the main engagement and gallantly led his comrades on to additional attacks which resulted in the destruction of two additional fighters and damaging of another without a single loss to ourselves. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Second Lieutenant Quesseth, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.