The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain John Franklin Bolt, Jr. (MCSN: 0-13522), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Section and Division Leader in Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED FOURTEEN (FMV-214) and subsequently in Marine Fighting Squadron TWHO HUNDRED ELEVEN (VMF-211) in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands and Bismarck Archipelago Areas, from 27 November 1943 to 26 April 1944. Fearless and determined in the face of powerful opposition, Captain Bolt led his group on a bold fighter sweep over the enemy-held Rabaul airfields on 23 December, and, engaging a numerically superior force of enemy fighters, pressed home an attack which resulted in the destruction of two hostile planes and the infliction of severe damage on a third. Operating again over Rabaul on 1 and 4 January 1944, he shot down one and severely damaged two other Japanese craft and, several days later, plunged through relentless anti-aircraft fire to strafe the Borpop Airfield, setting fire to a large fuel dump and bombing a plane on the runway. By his superb airmanship and gallant fighting spirit during numerous strike escorts, fighter sweeps, patrols and strafing missions carried out under hazardous conditions, Captain Bold contributed materially to the success of his squadron’s aerial offensive and his unfaltering devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.