John Hubert Davies

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to John Hubert Davies, Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commander of a flight of three B-17 Heavy Bombers of the 3d Bombardment Group (H), FAR EAST Air Force, engaged in bombing missions during the period 10 through 14 April 1942, in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Philippine islands. Lieutenant Colonel Davies’ force participated in a daring four-day mission under the overall command of Brigadier General Ralph Royce, who led a flight of seven B-25Cs and three B-17s from Australia to a staging field at Del Monte on Mindanao in the Philippine Islands. Over the following two days the B-25’s and Lieutenant Colonel Davies’ B-17’s attacked the many ships and the docks at Cebu, the air and harbor facilities at Davao, and Nichols Field on Luzon. The B-25 Mitchell’s were involved in over twenty sorties. They sank one Jap transport and possibly two others. They also shot down three Japanese aircraft. All but one of the aircraft returned to Australia without the loss of a single flyer, and they brought out a number of important military and diplomatic personnel who had gathered at Del Monte to await evacuation. The gallant leadership, personal courage and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Colonel Davies during this period have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.