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 First Lieutenant (Air Corps) James Franklin Wakefield (ASN: 39079575), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a pilot of the *** Cargo Group, in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations, from 16 February 1945 to 16 March 1945. First Lieutenant Wakefield participated in more than one hundred hours of aerial flight over territory in China and/or Burma where exposure to enemy fire was possible and expected. His missions were accomplished in un-armed cargo aircraft bearing troops, supplies, and heavy equipment over hazardous mountain terrain into the forward areas. His devotion to duty and degree of efficiency, above and beyond that normally expected, reflect great credit upon him, and on the Army Air Forces of the United States.