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 Captain (Air Corps) Robert James Dixon (ASN: 0-886100), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as a Pilot of a Spitfire aircraft of the 14th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 7th Photographic Group, EIGHTH Air Force, photographing heavily defended oil refineries as Merseburg, Germany, on 14 February 1945. Captain Dixon went down alone below the clouds to 15,000 feet where his single engine aircraft was hit by flak and set on fire. Completely disregarding his personal safety, Captain Dixon stayed with the smoking aircraft and despite the eminent danger of explosion, radioed important observations to his fighter cover. Captain Dixon remained with the critically damaged aircraft until he was able to give his fighter escort a corrected flight course to home base, then bailed out. By this heroic act, the military operation was successfully accomplished, changing the priority of a vitally important target, thereby saving the lives of allied airmen. Captain Dixon’s heroism and his determination to complete this mission in complete disregard of the odds against him exemplifies the highest traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States.