 The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) John Charles Meyer, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-51 Fighter Airplane in the 487th Fighter Squadron, 352d Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 8 May 1944, during an air mission over Germany.On this date, Lieutenant Colonel Meyer led a flight of eight fighters in an attack against greatly superior numbers of enemy fighters trying to intercept a friendly bomber formation.The enemy flight was dispersed.