Wallace S. Dinn

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Wallace S. Dinn (0-431949), First Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a Fighter Airplane in the 339th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group, THIRTEENTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces from 7 October 1942 through 5 January 1943. During this period Lieutenant Dinn became the first American to capture a Japanese ZERO pilot since the Battle for Guadalcanal. First Lieutenant Dinn’s unquestionable valor in aerial combat, at the cost of his life, is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 13th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.