Jack Weston Wood

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Jack Weston Wood, Colonel (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Group Commander of a Group of B-24 Heavy Bombers of the 389th Bombardment Group (H), NINTH Air Force (Attached), while participating in a bombing mission on 1 August 1943, against the Ploesti Oil Refineries in Rumania. During a long and hazardous attack against a vital enemy oil installation made at low-altitude by a formation of B-24 type aircraft, Colonel Wood, while flying as group commander in a bomber flown by Captain Kenneth Caldwell, led his group through heavy enemy fire against impossible odds. The heroic leadership, personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Colonel Wood on this occasion, even when confronted with practically certain destruction, exemplified the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.