The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Alex N. McInnis, Jr. (NSN: 0-104373), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Commander of a Navy PBY Patrol Plane Airplane in Patrol Squadron FIFTY-TWO (VP-52), in action against the enemy from 25 November 1943 to 23 December 1943, while deployed over the Bismarck Islands. During this period Lieutenant McInnis, as a Pilot of a Catalina Patrol Plane in the vicinity of the Bismarck Archipelago, at night, and during extremely adverse and hazardous weather conditions, displayed exceptional ability in locating forces of Japanese combatant units and convoys and extraordinary courage in successfully carrying out a low-altitude bombing attack on a large merchant vessel. He executed this attack in the face of enemy men-of-war and very heavy, concentrated, automatic heavy-caliber anti-aircraft fire even though his plane was frequently hit by enemy fire on the approach to his target. In this attack he made a direct hit with a 1,000-pound bomb, damaging the ship to such a degree that it was still burning three hours later. His actions during this military operation showed an extraordinarily high degree of professional skill, outstanding aggressiveness and persistence, exceptional determination and heroic coolness under fire and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.