The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Master Sergeant Ralph W. Bottriell (ASN: R-1066719), U.S. Army Air Corps, for heroism while participating in an aerial flight, as a member of the 68th Service Squadron. On 19 May 1919, at McCook Field, Dayton, Ohio. Sergeant Bottriell made the first jump to be preformed by Army personnel with a manually operated, free-type parachute. At that time parachute jumping of any kind was considered extremely hazardous. In spite of this, Sergeant Bottriell repeatedly jeopardized his life making parachute test jumps from airplanes flying at various speeds and at various altitudes to perfect this parachute. By his untiring effort, fearlessness, and disregard of personal danger, Sergeant Bottriell aided materially in proving the free-type parachute not only possible but practical for airplane use.