Navy Federal Credit Union

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 Sergeant Sabu Dastagir (ASN: 39701520), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as assistant radio operator of a B-24 in the Far East Air Force, in action near Sicadel Island, Borneo, on 30 November 1944. Sergeant Dastagir was a crew member of a B-24 on a lone shipping search along the southwest and northern coast of Borneo. During the course of the flight five enemy ships were attacks, the first, an 800-ton vessel being strafed and set afire near Albong Bay. A 250-pound bomb was then dropped, causing the ship to explode and break up. The second vessel attacked was a 500 – 1,000-ton ship near Point Jambangan, a near miss was scored. As it appeared to be suck on a reef, the B-24 then proceeded to make a bombing run on a 1,200-ton freighter-transport in the same area. On the second attack, which was made in the face of anti-aircraft fire, a direct hit was scored amidships, after which the vessel broke in two and sank. A smaller vessel was strafed and badly damaged, and the fifth ship was attacked near Pogpoint, northeast of Darvel Bay, one bomb scoring a near miss. As this was the last bomb carried by the airplane, and the fuel supply was running low, no further attacks wee made by this crew. The outstanding courage and devotion to duty displayed by each of the crew members are worthy of the highest commendation.

Awards Received