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II.
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS. By direction of the President, under the
provisions of the Act of Congress approved 2 July 1926 (Bulletin 8, WD, 1926), a
Distinguished Flying Cross is awarded by the Commanding General, Far East Air Forces, to
the following named officer:
 Major
GERARD F. WIENTJES,
(0374107), Air Corps, United States Army. For extraordinary achievement
while participating in an aerial flight near ***** on 19 Dec 1944. Returning
from a rescue mission on their Army Catalina type aircraft, these officers
were ordered to investigate the report of a Navy Catalina down in the bay.
Making a landing in unknown waters, they learned from natives that the six
crewmembers of the stricken aircraft had been forced to take to the
mountains five miles away because of the danger from the Japanese garrison
nearby. Risking detection by the enemy, Captain Wientjes and Lieutenant
Carothers took off again to fly closer to the missing flyers' hideout and,
landing amid dangerous coral reefs, made contact with three of the airmen.
After dispatching a native to inform the other three, who had gone further
back into the mountains, that they would be rescued on the following day,
they took off with the survivors and, flying through heavy rainstorms,
arrived safely at their base. The outstanding courage and devotion to duty displayed by
these officers are worthy of commendation.
Read his other citations:
Distinguished Flying Cross
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