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 Captain Kermit K. Beahan (ASN: 0-432331), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving with the 313th Bombardment Wing, 20th Air Force, in action against the enemy on 9 August 1945. Captain Beahan was Bombardier of a B-29 aircraft carrying the second atomic bomb employed in the history of warfare. The Superfort was flown 1,5000 miles over open water to the Japanese Empire with great skill. Finding the primary objective obscured by smoke, he made three separate bomb runs in an effort to fulfill the original plans, but he was finally forced to turn to the secondary target. Despite a rapidly dwindling gasoline supply, the plane was flown to the objective, and Captain Beahan released the bomb on the important industrial city of Nagasaki with devastating effect. The power of this missile was so great as to threaten disintegration of the aircraft if it had been detonated while still in the bomb bay by a burst of flak or a hit by enemy fighters, or if it was dropped while the B-29 was close to the ground, as might have occurred during engine failure. The outstanding skill, airmanship, and courage of Captain Beahan, in carrying out this successful bombardment despite the risks involved in handling this powerful new weapon, reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Army Air Forces.

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 Captain Kermit K. Beahan (ASN: 0-432331), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving with the 313th Bombardment Wing, 20th Air Force, on 18 and 19 September 1945. His outstanding courage and dedication to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.