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 Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Charlie Falletta (ASN: 0-417206), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-39 Fighter Airplane in the 36th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, FAR EAST Air Force, in action against enemy forces on 3 May 1942 near Port Moresby, New Guinea. While on a mission to intercept enemy planes pursuing one of our bombers, Lieutenant Falletta noted a flight of nine enemy fighters. He made a diving head-on attack on the two leading planes through a burst of cannon and machine gun fire and succeeded in forcing the enemy formation to change course and split up, enabling the rest of our planes to make successful attacks. Both enemy planes initially attacked by Lieutenant Falletta were last seen spinning earthward. He then made two more attacks on separate enemy fighters, damaging both. Second Lieutenant Falletta’s unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.