John Ralph Hoover

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to John Ralph Hoover, Major (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as a Pilot with the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, 8th Reconnaissance Wing, EIGHTH Air Force, in action against enemy forces on 6 June 1944, and from 16 June through 19 June 1944, during aerial photo reconnaissance missions over enemy held territory in the European Theater of Operations. On 6 June 1944, faced with low cloud formations making normal reconnaissance impossible Major Hoover elected to fly at an exceptionally low altitude in order to obtain vital photographs of enemy held territory. On 16 June 1944, he volunteered to fly the first shuttle mission to Russia, and successfully carried out his assignment in spite of hazardous weather conditions which ordinarily would have caused a pilot to return to his base. After departing from Russia, he flew to Italy and completed his flight by returning to England, bringing important photographs of installations deep in enemy territory. The courage and devotion to duty displayed by Major Hoover upon these occasions reflect highest credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.