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 Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) John A. Caputo (ASN: 0-791069), 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 8 February 1943, Lieutenant Caputo’s squadron escorted eighteen B-26’s and eighteen B-25’s over Gabes Airdrome. Enemy fighters attacked in superior numbers. Lieutenant Caputo shot down own ME-109 and played an important part in the destruction of seven other enemy fighters, thereby enabling our bombers to successfully bomb the airdrome. Lieutenant Caputo’s steadfast courage and consistent devotion to duty have reflected great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.