AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  -
MODEL:  P-47

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Theodore Matula for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of a P-47 type aircraft. On 20 January 1945, Lieutenant Matula led an eight-plane formation of fighter bombers in an attack upon a marshaling yards at Borgo, Italy. Despite a solid overcast which forced him to fly on instruments, Lieutenant Matula reached the target area and sighted his objective through a small opening in the clouds. Immediately pressing a precision attack in the face of a heavy barrage of enemy ground fire, Lieutenant Matula enabled his P-47's to score direct hits severing the rail lines in two places and destroying two freight cars. Reforming his flight, Lieutenant Matula returned to the target area and, in the face of strong enemy resistance, led repeated strafing attacks, destroying or damaging four freight cars and one locomotive and other vital communications installations. On eighty-five combat missions his outstanding proficiency and steadfast devotion to duty have reflected great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States