James T. Posey

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to James T. Posey, Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Deputy Commander of a B-24 Heavy Bomber Force of the 68th Bombardment Squadron, 44th 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, Lieutenant Colonel Posey, flying in the B-24 Bomber piloted Captain James Dieh, 68th Bombardment Squadron, led his force through heavy enemy fire against impossible odds, and despite the death of one of the gunners in his aircraft, continued on until his bomber and the remainder of the crew returned safely to base. The heroic leadership, personal courage and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Colonel Posey 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.