re: David Byrne Admits He 'Regrets' How He Handled Talking Heads Breakup, Says He Was a Tyrant

quote:

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Navy Cross
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING World War II
Service: Navy
Battalion: Bombing Squadron 16 (VB-16)
Division: U.S.S. Lexington (CV-16)
GENERAL ORDERS:

Commander Fast Carrier Task Force Pacific: Serial 0362 (July 8, 1944)
CITATION:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Ralph Weymouth (NSN: 0-81252), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber and Commanding Officer of Bombing Squadron SIXTEEN (VB-16), attached to the U.S.S. LEXINGTON (CV-16), in action against the enemy fleet in the vicinity of the East Philippine Sea on 20 June 1944. Lieutenant Commander Weymouth led a large strike group of planes from Air Group SIXTEEN in an attack on Japanese carrier forces which were beyond the safe range limits of his planes. His flight of dive bombers scored seven direct hits on a large carrier not previously damaged and two direct hits on another. The torpedo bombers scored nine direct bomb hits on the carrier not previously damaged. He personally made a direct hit on the undamaged carrier. His attack resulted in the sinking of one carrier and the burning and probable sinking of another. The flight was under continuous aerial attack (even in the dives) for 25 minutes resulting in three planes being shot down by enemy aircraft while his flight shot down four enemy planes. The return flight was made at night with the additional hazard of a night carrier landing, low fuel and several damaged planes. His courage and disregard for his own safety were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

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