William J. Lahodney

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to William J. Lahodney, Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant], U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Commander of a Navy PBY Patrol Plane in Patrol Squadron FIFTY-TWO (VP-52), in action against Japanese forces seventy miles northeast of Rabaul, on 26 November 1943. Repeatedly attacking an enemy force consisting of a cruiser and three destroyers at extremely close range and in the face of concentrated and accurate heavy antiaircraft fire. Lieutenant Commander Lahodney scored hits with a five-hundred-pound and a one-thousand-pound bomb, causing severe damage to the Japanese cruiser. When his plane was struck by enemy antiaircraft fire which made over one hundred holes in the aircraft, destroyed the radar, severed several hull strength members and the rudder cables and threw the plane out of control, he skillfully regained control of the aircraft and, flying through darkness and stormy weather, over ocean and dangerous mountain terrain for five hours, finally returned safe to base. Lieutenant Commander Lahodney’s expert airmanship, courage, aggressiveness and unwavering devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.