Grant M. Mahony’s Distinguished Service Cross citation

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Grant M. Mahony (0-025233), First Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-40 Fighter Airplane in the 3d Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group, FAR EAST Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 10, 11, and 13 December 1941, during air missions over the Philippine Islands. First Lieutenant Mahony volunteered for a vital night mission in thick weather during a complete ground blackout. In the face of severed ground fire from strongly held positions, he secured information needed for a subsequently successful bombing attack on 10 December. On the following day, returning form a bombing mission near Legaspi in which he destroyed an enemy flying boat and strafed an enemy-held radio station, this pilot displayed exceptional courage in performing the highly dangerous feat of landing his plane with bombs hanging from an improperly functioning bomb release, in preference to bailing out. Again the following week, Lieutenant Mahony was flying over Legaspi at 13,000 feet when he encountered two Japanese pursuit planes. Suddenly his guns jammed, so he dived low with the Japanese on his tail. He realized he was helpless in the face of heavy machine gun fire, but observed that the Japanese were missing his plane and strafing their own troops. Lieutenant Mahony put his ship into a short climb, then drew the Japanese ships behind him again. This time he swooped right over the enemy ground troops and once more the enemy poured machine gun fire into their own men. First Lieutenant Mahony’s unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.