The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Charles Edwin Norton (ASN: 0-416333), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-17 Heavy Bomber in the 42d Bombardment Squadron, 11th Bombardment Group (H), THIRTEENTH Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission near Shortland Harbor, Solomon Islands, on 2 September 1942. First Lieutenant Norton, as pilot of a heavy bombardment airplane and member of a four airplane formation, participated in a hazardous mission to bomb Japanese surface vessels. Contact was made with the enemy force and individual bombing runs were immediately undertaken on two cargo vessels, one of which was hit by a bomb from Lieutenant Norton’s plane and took on a decided list. Another cargo vessel was probably damaged by several near misses. At this time, twenty Japanese fighters pressed closely to the attack from both beams and front quarters. Two of these were shot down in flames and another probably damaged. In spite of the attacking fighters, Lieutenant Norton courageously carried out his bombing run, holding his course and completing an effective and successful attack. His airplane was heavily hit during this action, and when last seen was descending to the water, smoking and disabled, with enemy fighters pursuing it to the surface. Lieutenant Norton displayed extraordinary heroism throughout this combat with the enemy and his personal courage and zealous devotion to duty have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 13th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.