AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  -
MODEL:  -

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Robert H. Cutting for extraordinary achievement in aerial flight, while participating in aerial operations against the enemy on 23 January 1945. Lieutenant Cutting, as a crew member of a heavy bombardment type aircraft, participated in a bombardment strike mission against an enemy base in the Volvano Islands. During this mission this crew voluntarily fell back to protect a plane disabled by anti-aircraft fire. The formation in which they were flying was attacked by four unaggressive fighters shortly before reaching the target. These were repulsed, but it was noted that a wing plane was in trouble and seemed to be losing its No. 2 engine. On the bomb run, the formation was met by intense and heavy anti-aircraft fire. The wing plane feathered its No. 2 engine, began losing altitude and airspeed and fell back from the formation. The enemy fighters immediately pounced on the crippled aircraft. This crew pulled their plane away from the safety of the formation, took up their position by the crippled plane's wing and began firing at the fighters. Surrounded by streamers of phosphorous bombs, steadily losing airspeed and altitude in order to maintain their position, they nevertheless managed to drive off the attacking fighters and were credited with probably destroying one of them. They then maintained their wing position and guided the crippled plane the long and arduous overwater flight back to base. Throughout this mission each displayed high skill, courage, and devotion to duty which exemplifies the highest traditions of the Army Air Forces.