JAMES F. COLLINS, Captain, 69th Bombardment Squadron (M), AAF, United States Army. For extraordinary heroism in action near Midway Island, 4 June 1942. Capt. Collins led a provisional flight of medium bombardment airplanes to seek out and attack a large Japanese Naval Force. Upon sighting the enemy fleet, he unswervingly led his airplanes into action. Subjected immediately to an exceptionally strong fighter attack with which he had a running gun fight for almost thirty minutes, it was only by skillful handling of his airplane that he was able to avoid this and subsequent anti-aircraft fire and keep the formation together. Arriving before other Army forces, he carried out the first torpedo attack ever entered into by airplanes of this type or by the Army Air Forces, and its ultimate success primarily depended upon the skill and intrepidity of the leader. Capt. Collins sought out a large enemy aircraft carrier protected on all sides by gunfire of all types from enemy battleships, cruisers, and destroyers. Although the carrier was trying to elude his approach, he did, by evasive maneuvering, avoid the gunfire and completed his approach. By his superior leadership Capt. Collins carried out a most hazardous mission under the most adverse conditions and was unfaltering in courage.

Mr. Collins joined the L.O.V. in 1987 and resides in Florida.