Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in Australia, General Orders No. 39 (April 15, 1942)
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) John Hubert Davies (ASN: 0-17999), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commander of a flight of three B-25 Medium Bombers of the 3d Bombardment Group (H), FAR EAST Air Force. On 10 April 1942, Lieutenant Colonel Davies led a squadron of B-25 bombers from Batchelor Field, N.T., Australia, over enemy infested open seas to the Philippine Islands, where he successfully carried out bombing missions against enemy shipping, resulting in heavy damage, despite strong resistance. Lieutenant Colonel Davies thus visited retribution on the enemy for the death or captured of those of his Group who had so recently and so gallantly defended Bataan Peninsula. Lieutenant Colonel Davies coolness under fire and calm direction of his officers and men, discharging his mission and bring back his squadron intact was in the best tradition of the United States Army Air Corps, and merits the highest approbation.