Maynard Melvon Furney

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Maynard Melvon Furney, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane and Section Leader in Fighting Squadron FORTY-ONE (VF-41), embarked from the U.S.S. RANGER (CV-4), during the assault on and occupation of French Morocco from 8 to 11 November 1942. Through intense enemy anti-aircraft fire, Lieutenant Furney, on 8 November, led a section of an eighteen-plane flight in a destructive attack on the Gazes airdrome. With courage and skill he provided cover for other units of the flight and, when our planes were attacked, he unhesitatingly engaged the hostile fighter craft, outmaneuvering and sending two down in flames. In the subsequent six flights in which he participated during the following two days, Lieutenant Furney, in addition to bombing and strafing shore batteries at El Hank, also led his four-plane section in strafing two submarines and patrolling over the RANGER and transports at Fedala. His aggressive leadership, relentless fighting spirit, and heroic devotion to duty at great personal risk contributed materially to the reduction of hostile reconnaissance in this area and the success which our forces realized in accomplishing vital objectives.

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 318 (September 1943)