John F. Dobbin’s Navy Cross citation

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to

John Francis Dobbin

Major, U.S. Marine Corps

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as a Pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-FOUR (VMF-224), Marine Air Group TWENTY-THREE (MAG-23), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in aerial combat against enemy Japanese forces at Guadalcanal, in the Solomons Islands, on 14 September 1942. Leading his division in response to an air raid signal when twenty single-engined enemy seaplanes were strafing Henderson Field, Major Dobbin dove to the attack through heavy anti-aircraft fire and, in spite of low visibility, within ten minutes shot down, unaided, three Japanese aircraft. The same expert airmanship and daring tactics displayed on this occasion enabled him in previous action to shoot down two twin-engined Japanese bombers and one type Zero fighter for a total of six enemy planes destroyed. His courage, alertness and loyal devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.