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) Henry C. Watters (ASN: 0-685221), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving on a B-29 Heavy Bomber of the 871st Bombardment Squadron, 497th Bombardment Group, TWENTIETH Air Force, on a bombing mission against an important factory in Tokyo, on 27 January 1945. He and his comrades destroyed nine and probably destroyed two others in a force of enemy fighters that made some three hundred attacks on the formation. Despite these intense attacks and accurate, heavy anti-aircraft fire they successfully bombed the assigned target. Over the target an aircraft was severely damaged and forced to drop out of the formation. They went to the assistance of the crippled plane, and provided fire cover for it to land’s end. They escorted the disabled aircraft until it was finally forced to ditch in enemy waters. Circling the ditched aircraft they accurately established its position and radioed this information to the nearest rescue craft. Then disregarding the danger of possible attack from nearby enemy held bases and the long, perilous, over-water route to their home base they dropped their own emergency equipment to the survivors. Because of lack of fuel and approaching darkness they were forced to leave the ditched aircraft. The high professional skill demonstrated by these individuals in the performance of their assigned duties and their courageous action in placing the safety of their comrades above their own are in keeping with the high traditions of the Army Air Forces.