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

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Second Lieutenant John N. Panas for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. On 18 December, 1944, Lieutenant Panas flew as the Radar Bombardier-Navigator in the lead ship of a wing of B-24 type aircraft on a bombing mission against an important and heavily defended enemy oil refinery in Germany. Because of the adverse weather conditions prevailing on the day of this mission, the groups were briefed to use pathfinder equipment both for navigation and bombing. Since this target was of such a high priority and because of the excellence of his work in the past, Lieutenant Panas was chosen to lead this mission. The weather was extremely severe, but by means of expert navigation and careful manipulation of his equipment, this officer brought his formation on course through to the target area. Here the enemy sent up an intense barrage of heavy and accurate flak, but Lieutenant Panas concentrated on his important tasks and took his group directly over the target for a smooth bomb run. It was later proven by post-raid reconnaissance that this high priority target had been bombed with exceptional results for a pathfinder mission, grave damage being inflicted on distillation plants, storage tanks, and other installation in the refinery area. Intelligence reports revealed that the North Refinery at Blechhammer was no longer operative. The outstanding professional skill and devotion to duty, which Lieutenant Panas displayed in carrying out this mission so successfully, are typical of his performance throughout his combat career of twenty-six (26) missions against the enemy, during which time he has elevated himself to the position of squadron radar operator and has reflected great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States of America.