AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  WWII
MODEL:  B-29

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Ralph H. Cecil for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight from a base in the Marianas Islands on the night of 5 August 1945 as Airplane Commander of a B-29 on a night demolition attack against the coal liquefaction plant at Ube, Japan, the leading producer of synthetic fuel in the Japanese Empire. Despite the imminence of enemy night fighters’ interception and the presence of intense anti-aircraft fire, the bombing run was flown skillfully, and without any evasive action, resulting in an exceptionally successful strike. As shown by radar scope photo plots, Lieutenant Cecil flew directly over the target. Post-strike photos established that this target was one hundred percent destroyed as a result of this attack, thereby establishing a new high standard for precision bombing by instruments. In addition, Lieutenant Cecil was tracked over his assigned targets on seven other missions. His calmness in the face of the enemy, superior professional skill, high degree of crew coordination, and courageous devotion to duty displayed reflects great credit on himself and the Army Air Forces.