Charles E. Perkins’ Navy Cross citation

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Charles Elliott Perkins, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a Navy Patrol Plane in Patrol Wing FOUR in action on 4 June 1942, in the Aleutian Islands, Territory of Alaska. In an isolated flight and without the assistance of fighter support, Lieutenant Commander Perkins succeeded in gaining contact with a powerful force of enemy Japanese carriers, cruisers and destroyers. Boldly maintaining this contact while subjected to enemy anti-aircraft fire, he transmitted vital information of the enemy. Subsequently, he repeatedly engaged in bombing enemy concentrations in Kiska Harbor against intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire. His daring aggressiveness and persistence in offensive action were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.