Navy Cross

AWARDED FOR ACTIONS

DURING World War II

Service: Navy

Battalion: Torpedo Squadron 9 (VT-9)

Division: U.S.S. Yorktown (CV-10)

GENERAL ORDERS:

Commander 1st Carrier Task Force Pacific: Serial 0508 (June 28, 1945)

CITATION:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant [then Lieutenant, Junior Grade] Clyde Jameson Lee, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane in Torpedo Squadron NINE (VT-9), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-10), in action against major units of the Japanese Fleet off Kyushu, Japan, on 7 April 1945. Leading a seven-plane division in a brilliant torpedo attack against an enemy light cruiser, Lieutenant Lee maneuvered his flight through a heavy overcast while flying on instruments for a perfect run on the hostile vessel and, as the flight broke through the clouds, braved intense anti-aircraft fire from the cruiser and a screening destroyer to press home the attack to a point-blank range and assist in the scoring of five direct torpedo hits which caused the hostile cruiser to capsize and sink a minute later. Upon discovering that his own torpedo had failed to release, he attempted a single-handed attack on the screening destroyer despite intense anti-aircraft fire which was concentrated on his lone plane and, when again his torpedo failed to release, made a third run, coordinating his strike with a fellow pilot with the result that when the destroyer turned to avoid his torpedo it was struck by the other. By his superior airmanship, determination and gallant fighting spirit, Lieutenant Lee upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Clyde Lee (1922)