AWARDED DFC: 2
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  WWII
MODEL:  SBD

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Harold N. Murphy for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Dive Bomber Pilot attached to Scouting Squadron Seventy-one in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands area from September 28 to November 5, 1942. Participating in numerous vital bombing raids on enemy surface vessels, Lieutenant (junior grade) Murphy pressed home his attacks with fierce aggressiveness and expert airmanship, scoring three direct hits and probably two others on hostile destroyers. On October 15, when an enemy invasion fleet of five transports and eight destroyers was sighted in the immediate vicinity of Guadalcanal, he assisted in sinking four and possibly five of the transports despite severe fighter opposition and anti-aircraft fire. By his dauntless fighting spirit and unswerving devotion to duty throughout these engagements, Lieutenant (junior grade) Murphy contributed in large measure to the success of our forces in repulsing determined enemy attacks on Guadalcanal.

2.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander Harold N. Murphy for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Division Leader and Pilot of a bomber in Bombing Squadron Ninety-Eight during operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands and the Bismarck Archipelago from October 29, 1943, to May 15, 1944. Completing numerous bombing and strafing attacks on Japanese shipping, shore installations, airfields and supply areas during this period, Lieutenant Commander (then Lieutenant) Murphy scored damaging hits on a gun position at Ballale Airfield, Bougainville, a large cargo vessel and another gun position near Simpson Harbor at Rabaul and destroyed two gun positions near the runway of the strongly-defended bomber strip at Vunakanau, Rabaul. His skilled airmanship and courageous devotion to duty in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire and intercepting enemy fighter planes were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.