Fred G. Coburn

The Navy Cross is presented to Fred G. Coburn, Commander, U.S. Navy, for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility as manager of the naval aircraft factory at Philadelphia, in which capacity he showed exceptional organizing and executive ability with the result that the aircraft factory. Starting with nothing in August, 1917, Commander Coburn began regular construction of the largest type of aircraft in April, 1918, and within a year from the time of undertaking the enterprise was in full production, with a force not 5 per cent of whom had any previous experience with aircraft. In the early part of 1918 it was undertaken to quadruple the capacity of the factory and this undertaking was carried through successfully and with the greatest energy.