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 Mr. John L. Polando, a United States Civilian, for extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight from 28 to 30 July 1931. Mr. Polando achieved a 5,011.8 mile nonstop transatlantic flight from the United States to Istanbul, Turkey.