Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant

    Batallion:

    Patrol Squadron 101 (VP-101)

    Division:

    Patrol Wing 10

    Action Date:

    December 10, 1941

    Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 304 (July 1942)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Clarence Armstrong Keller, Jr., United States Navy, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary heroism while participating in aerial flight, while serving as Pilot of an airplane in Patrol Squadron ONE HUNDRED ONE (VP-101), Patrol Wing TEN (Patwing-10), in action against enemy Japanese naval forces at Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 10 December 1941. Lieutenant Keller spotted a Japanese naval force steaming northward 150 miles off Luzon’s coast. Two Kongo class battleships, one Kuma class cruiser and four destroyers were in the group. The vessels immediately unleashed a terrific barrage of anti-aircraft fire and sent up ship-based planes in an effort to knock down Lieutenant Keller’s aircraft. Hanging tenaciously, however, Lieutenant Keller continued to stalk the enemy ships and radioed instructions that guided an attacking force of bombers to the scene.