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) William B. Rawson (ASN: 0-490659), 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 5 April 1943, Lieutenant Rawson’s squadron escorted eighteen B-25’s on a combination anti-shipping sweep and fighter patrol over the Sicilian Straits. An enemy convoy and a formation of fifty or more JU-52’s with escorting fighters simultaneously were sighted. Lieutenant Rawson shot down one ME-109, damaged three others, conspicuously aided in destroying sixteen other enemy aircraft, and in dispersing the formation. Our bombers were thus enabled to make an uninterrupted bomb run on the convoy, resulting in much damage to the enemy vessels. Lieutenant Rawson’s outstanding courage and flying skill have reflected great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.