THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY WASHINGTON

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
to

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER
WILLIAM CHALMERS DIXON

UNITED STATES NAVY
for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

"For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as Pilot of a Helicopter in Helicopter Squadron ONE, on board the U.S.S. TOLEDO, during the rescue of a downed airman in enemy-held territory on 2 July 1951. Receiving an emergency call to pick up a downed pilot while he was participating in a naval gunfire spotting mission in the vicinity of Wonsan, Lieutenant Commander (then Lieutenant) Dixon immediately proceeded to the area some twenty miles inland although keenly aware that his fuel supply was dangerously low. When the airman was located on a wooded ridge, Lieutenant Commander Dixon carried out a low pass over the man to indicate a near-by valley as the pick-up point and, although the downed pilot was taken under hostile small- arms fire, skillfully maneuvered his helicopter alongside the man while his crewmen assisted him aboard the aircraft. Boldly flying over known enemy strong-points at minimum altitude in order to conserve his fuel on the return trip, he ultimately effected a safe landing on board the TOLEDO with his gasoline supply almost exhausted. By his marked courage, brilliant airmanship and self- less efforts in behalf of a fellow aviator. Lieutenant Commander Dixon upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

For the President,

signed Robert B. Anderson

Secretary of the Navy