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) Douglas E. Crichton (ASN: 0-496335), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in the North African Theater of Operations as Pilot of a P-38 type aircraft. On 30 January 1943, Lieutenant Chrichton’s squadron escorted eighteen B-25’s over Gabes. Successive formations of enemy fighters persistently attacked over a period of thirty minutes. Lieutenant Crichton shot down one ME-109, probably destroyed another, and led his flight with outstanding success in driving off the repeated attacks. As a result of this effective protection, all the bombers returned safely. The leadership, courage and steadfast devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Crichton reflected great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.