AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  WWII
MODEL:  B-24

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Second Lieutenant Vincent K. Isgrigg for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. On 14 January 1944, Lieutenant Isgrigg was Pilot of a B-24 type aircraft on an important bombing mission over ******** Yugoslavia. Just before the target, his plane was hit by several bursts of heavy flak from enemy anti-aircraft fire which shot away his entire rudder section, one aileron, severely damaged the hydraulic system, and rendered all instruments useless. Five (5) members of the crew bailed out immediately, thinking the aircraft a total loss; but after the loss of nearly ten thousand (10,000) feet of altitude, Lieutenant Isgrigg, with extraordinary professional skill, managed to regain control of his aircraft and, despite heavy enemy opposition, left the target area and flew his badly damaged ship a total of two hundred and ten (210) miles back to his home base for a safe landing without injury to crew or plane. Through his cool judgment, unflinching devotion to duty, and inspirational leadership, Lieutenant Isgrigg has reflected great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States of America.