The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to First Lieutenant Wilbur Jackson Thomas (MCSN: 0-13630), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as a Fighter Pilot attached to Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED THIRTEEN (VMF-213), Marine Air Group ELEVEN (MAG-11), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in aerial combat against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands Area from 5 September 1943 to 14 October 1943. When he was attacked by a numerically superior force of Japanese fighters during escort duty for our heavy bombers on a strike against Kahili Airfield, on Bougainville Island, First Lieutenant Thomas expertly maneuvered and fought his plane in a fierce counterattack, shooting down in flames three of the hostile planes. On 25 September in a similar action, he again personally destroyed three enemy aircraft and contributed to the destruction of another. Consistently displaying exception courage and skill throughout subsequent vital missions, he succeeded in bringing down an additional three hostile Zeros and probably two others, and aided in the sinking or destruction of thirteen enemy barges. First Lieutenant Thomas’ superb airmanship and heroic devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.