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 Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Roy G. Widstrom (ASN: 0-742809), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as Pilot of a B-17 airplane on a bombing mission over enemy occupied Europe, 31 December 1943. During the bombing run one engine of his aircraft was knocked out by flak and on leaving the target another engine was hit and ceased to function. Though his plane began to vibrate violently and became almost unmanageable at times, Lieutenant Widstrom maintained a position in the formation for almost an hour. On reaching the English Channel, he was forced to abandon the formation and was immediately attacked by enemy fighters. In spite of the damaged condition of his airplane, Lieutenant Widstrom skillfully out-maneuvered the enemy fighters until friendly fighters arrived and drove them off. The courage, coolness and skillful airmanship displayed by Lieutenant Widstrom in returning his aircraft to a safe landing in England reflect highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.