The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Aviation Technician Second Class John Bradley Tait, United States Coast Guard, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on the night of 17 February and the early morning of 18 February 1979 while serving as navigator of Coast Guard HH-3F 1432 engaged in the perilous attempt to rescue a severely injured seaman from the Japanese fishing vessel KAISEI MARU NO. 18 which was located 210 miles southeast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Upon notification that a MEDEVAC was needed, his helicopter launched toward a rendezvous with a Coast Guard HC-130 aircraft which had been dispatched to pinpoint the location of KAISEI MARU NO. 18. While en route, flying through heavy turbulence, high winds and snow showers, an updated position location for KAISEI MARU NO. 18 placed the vessel beyond the range of the helicopter, forcing the rescue helicopter to return to Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod. Receiving a further update on the vessel’s location, his helicopter took off again through the deteriorating weather and located the wildly pitching vessel. After a demanding approach to the surface was executed, a tending line for the rescue litter failed when the line parted due to the motion of the vessel, and a second attempt failed due to the high winds. Before another attempt could be made, a mechanical malfunction occurred. Reacting immediately, the pilot guided the crippled helicopter to the water in a level, controlled attitude. Upon reaching the surface, the turbulent seas capsized the aircraft, trapping Aviation Technician Second Class Tait and three of the crewmen. His courage, fortitude and unwavering devotion to duty are most heartily commended and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.