The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to First Lieutenant Robert Elsworth Wellwood (MCSN: 0-28168), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Pilot of a Fighter Plane in Marine Night Fighting Squadron FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE (VMF(N)-533), Marine Air Group TWENTY-TWO (MAG-22), FOURTH Marine Aircraft Wing, in aerial combat against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, on 18 May 1945. While flying night air combat patrol, First Lieutenant Wellwood made ground-controlled interceptions of two hostile bombers and, daringly pressing home his attack in the face of return fire, successfully shot down both of the Japanese planes. Vectored on a third enemy bomber through a barrage of anti-aircraft fire which damaged his engine and silenced his radio transmitter, he regained contact with the enemy by the use of radar and, despite strong opposition, skillfully maneuvered his aircraft to destroy his third plane in a period of two hours. His expert airmanship and gallant devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon First Lieutenant Wellwood and the United States Naval Service.