AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  WWII
MODEL:  B-25

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Staff Sergeant Sam A. Mazzara for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight over Dutch New Guinea on 16 June 1944. Flying as a turret gunner in the lead plane of a formation of B-25s on a bombing and strafing mission against a Japanese airdrome, Sergeant Mazzara observed fifteen to twenty enemy fighters rising to intercept. When two of them pressed their attacks against his plane, he forced them to break off before they could find the range and then caught them with a long burst from his guns, causing them to burst into flames, collide, and crash into the sea. Sergeant Mazzara’s accurate fire continued to drive away other enemy fighters that attempted to close in and was, thus, largely instrumental in assuring the safety of our bombers. His determination, resourcefulness and outstanding courage are worthy of the highest commendation.