John Robert Bertie

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to John Robert Bertie (0-263654), Ensign, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for heroic conduct, superior airmanship, and utter disregard of personal safety in the execution of his mission as Pilot of a carrier-Based Navy Fighting Plane, assigned to destroy enemy aircraft at Tinian and Saipan Islands, on 22 February 1944. After participating in four strafing runs on enemy airfields, Ensign Bertie destroyed an enemy airborne ZEKE- Type fighter plane. Then, despite wounds in the left arm and left leg from airborne fire and anti-aircraft fire, and in spite of damage to his plane, he engaged and shot down a formation of two more ZEKE-Type fighter planes. He then, without compass, navigated his plane 130 miles back to base by means of the sun. Although weak from loss of blood, and with his left arm incapacitated, he succeeded in manually lowering his flaps and wheels, putting his guns on safety, and landing aboard. His superior airmanship, his aggressiveness and unswerving devotion to duty, and his disregard of personal safety in the execution of his mission were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet: Serial 01005 (March 16, 1944)