Robert Wayne Duncan

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Robert Wayne Duncan, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane and Division Leader in Fighting Squadron FIVE (VF-5), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-10), in action against enemy Japanese forces at Truk on 16 February 1944. After escorting an attack of torpedo and dive bombers to the target and observing twenty enemy planes approaching to attack from out of the sun, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Duncan courageously led his division in a determined attack to destroy eight of the enemy planes, personally accounting for four. By his skilled airmanship, courage and gallant devotion to duty in the face of overwhelming fighter opposition, he contributed materially to the success of the attack and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.