Navy Federal Credit Union

After earning a DFC at Bougainville, Lieutenant Commander Lovelace was subsequently killed in a separate action.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Commander

    Batallion:

    Fighting Squadron 2 (VF-2)

    Division:

    U.S.S. Lexington (CV-2)

    Action Date:

    February 20, 1942

    Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 304 (July 1942) & 317 (August 1943)

    The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Commander Donald Alexander Lovelace (NSN: 0-62074), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism while participating in aerial flight, while serving as Pilot of an airplane in an Fighting Squadron TWO (VF-2), attached to the U.S.S. LEXINGTON (CV-2), in action against enemy forces in the Pacific War Area when his carrier was attacked by Japanese bombing planes on 20 February 1942. Lieutenant Commander Lovelace led his division in a vigorous and determined attack in the face of combined machine gun and cannon fire, against a formation of enemy bombers, and he, with the assistance of his teammate caused the destruction of one enemy bomber.