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 Staff Sergeant Lawrence G. Little for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 27 April 1945 from a base in the Marianas Islands. These individuals were combat crew members flying a B-29 aircraft on the daylight demolition raid against Kyushu Airfield on Kyushu, Japan. While the squadron was attempting to assemble off the Japanese coast at 20,000 feet, it was met by enemy fighters. In spite of this, the formation was accomplished. The interceptors attacked on the way to the initial point. The central fire control gunner damaged one interceptor. These veterans of many missions, against the home islands of Japan, succeeded in making an exceptional bomb run on the objective area, strike photographs showing ninety-nine percent of the explosives falling in the briefed target. Immediately after bombs away, the formation was attacked by forty enemy fighters, dropping phosphorous bombs. The tail gunner destroyed one single engine fighter. The Superfort was hit in two engines, in the tail assembly, and in the fuselage. In spite of this, the bomber landed safely at its home base. The professional skill, teamwork and resolution displayed in successfully striking this high priority target reflects great credit upon themselves and the Army Air Forces.