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) Edward C. Teats, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight of nine B-17 bombers from Honolulu to the Philippine Islands from 5 September to 12 September 1941. First Lieutenant Teats displayed skillful airmanship and accurate knowledge of the highly technical details involved in the successful execution of the flight which involved traversing by air uncharted waters from Wake Island to Port Moresby and Darwin and thence to Fort Stotsenberg. The speed with which each phase of this flight was accomplished indicated a high quality of navigation. This outstanding achievement reflects the highest credit on the military forces of the United States.
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Awards Received
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Silver Star
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Silver Star
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Captain (Air Corps)Batallion:
14th Reconnaissance SquadronRegiment:
19th Bombardment Group (H)Division:
Far East Air ForceAction Date:
April 10 – 14, 1942
Headquarters, Allied Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific Area, General Orders No. 20 (June 20, 1942)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Air Corps) Edward C. Teats (ASN: 0-342513), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while serving as Pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber of the 14th Reconnaissance Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group, Far East Air Force, in action against the enemy from 10 to 14 April 1942. Captain Teats departed from Batchelor Field, N.T., Australia, on 10 April 1942 for a secret advance base in the Philippine Islands. He bombed enemy shipping at Batangas but was forced to return before noon to his base because of damage to the plane. While repairing it, the enemy raided the field and further damaged the plane, which necessitated working all night so that the crew might take off in the morning. Half an hour after the take-off, an engine went out and the long trip back to Australia was accomplished with a crippled plane. This remarkable achievement exemplifies the highest accomplishments of the United Sates Air Corps and is in keeping with hits highest standards.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
First Lieutenant (Air Corps)Regiment:
19th Bombardment SquadronDivision:
Far East Air ForceAction Date:
December 22, 1941
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Edward C. Teats, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on a bombing mission in company with three other B-17s against the huge Japanese invasion force off Lingayen, Philippine Islands. On the morning of 22 December 1941, a formation of Flying Fortresses departed Australia under orders to bomb enemy concentrations in the Gulf of Davao, Mindanao, and in the Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippine Islands. The first target lay nearly 1,500 miles distant over a route obscured with bad weather. The formation arrived in the vicinity of the target and attacked at sunset which took the enemy by complete surprise. Several transports were damaged in the raid and numerous fires started along the shore where the enemy supplies were located. Completing this phase of the mission the planes landed after dark near Del Monte, Mindanao, under the hazardous conditions of landing on an aerodrome which had for the past few days been under constant enemy surveillance and aerial attack. Immediately, re-servicing and bomb loading began. Without rest but fully determined to continue, the formation took off shortly after midnight and proceeded north to the next objective, a huge concentration of enemy transports in the Lingayen Gulf of Luzon. As the first rays of sunlight appeared, the bombers were over the targets. The formation penetrated a heavy anti-aircraft barrage, released its bombs on and around the transports, then turned southward, successfully fighting off hostile pursuit attacks and returned to another operating base after 13 hours of continuous flight. The combined operations covered a period of 32 continuous hours and constitutes a feat that could only have been accomplished by extraordinary courage, professional skill as airplane commanders and possession of a “will to win” attitude.