William Stewart Mchenry

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to William Stewart McHenry (0-797159), Second Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-24 Heavy Bomber, while participating in a bombing mission on 18 October 1943, against enemy targets in Burma. After his bomber was severely damaged on this date, Second Lieutenant McHenry skillfully controlled his airplane long enough for six members of the crew to bail out before a wing was ripped from the fuselage and his bomber crashed in flames. The personal courage and devotion to duty displayed by Second Lieutenant McHenry on this occasion, at the cost of his life, have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.