The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) John Jarvis Cape, Jr. (ASN: 0-426363), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving with the 11th Fighter Squadron, 343d Fighter Group, while acting in the capacity of fighter pilot against the Japanese in the Aleutian area on 4 June 1942. While flying one of four planes on a routine patrol flight, Lieutenant Cape was attacked by four German Stuka type dive bombers and four Zero fighters. Attempting to protect the remaining planes of the flight, which were taking off from a nearby field, Lieutenant Cape engaged one Zero fighter as it was attempting to maneuver into position to fire on his comrades. He demonstrated outstanding courage, initiative and personal disregard in order to down this plane. While he was shooting this Zero fighter from the sky another maneuvered into position and Lieutenant Cape was shot down with the personal feeling and self-gratification that he had probably saved one or more of his comrades from a fate similar to his own. This achievements reflects the highest credit on the military forces of the United States.