Fred W. Norton

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Fred W. Norton, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in the Toul sector, France, on July 2, 1918. Lieutenant Norton, as flight commander, led a patrol of eight machines, the first large American formation to encounter a large German patrol. His command gave battle to nine enemy battle planes driven by some of the leading aces of the German Army. Although both of his guns jammed at the beginning of the fight and were therefore useless, he stayed with the formation, skillfully maneuvering his machine to the best advantage. He was attacked by enemy planes at four different times, but skillfully avoided them or dived at them. His continued presence was a great moral help to his comrades, who destroyed two of the enemy planes. On July 23, 1918, Lieutenant Norton died of wounds received in action July 20, 1918.