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

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Staff Sergeant John C. Hoover for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight 16 May 1945. These combat crew members of a B-29 aircraft flew on a bombing mission from a base in the Marianas Islands against the highly important and heavily-defended city of Nagoya, Japan. In spite of adverse and rapidly changing weather conditions, they proceeded to the rendezvous point. Carburetor malfunction on one engine necessitated a bomb run at reduced power. In the face of this difficulty and the intense enemy opposition they made an excellent run, and the projectiles were released on the target with devastating results. The skill and determination shown by this crew contributed materially to the destruction of almost four square miles of one of Japan's most important industrial cities. The courage of these veterans of more than twenty-one combat missions in carrying out their assigned duties was instrumental in the successful completion of this strike and reflects great credit on themselves and the Army Air Forces