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THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON
The President of the United States takes pleasure in
presenting
the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to
PATROL BOMBING SQUADRON ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEEN
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:.
“For extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japa-
nese forces in East China, Korean and Japanese home waters
during the Olinawa Campaign, from April 26 to August 8, 1945.
The first squadron to operate heavy bombers from still-insecure
Okinawa, Patrol Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEEN
opened a three-weeks campaign on April 26, sending United
States planes for the flrst time into the Sea of Japan and
confined
waters around Korea to sink 24 enemy ships and damage 30
others In one of the most successful operations of this kind.
Braving fire from the shore, the targets, escorting warships
and
enemy fighters, the Squadron attacked hostile shipping at every
opportunity executed strikes against heavily fortified air
bases
and airfields Kyushu and Korea; and on June 7 began its inten-
sive campaign of mining the waterways and harbors along the
coast of Korea while continuing to wreak havoc on enemy land
and shipping targets. With the sea blockade forcing more
traffic
overland, the Squadron organized a raid to cripple land
communi-
cations between Japan and China and, during missions in eastern
Korea, against Shanghai, and along the coastal waters of
northern
Honshu, inflicted extensive damage on railroad, airfield and
shipping installations. Highly successful in effecting the
air-sea
blockade of the Japanese homeland, Patrol Bombing Squadron
ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEEN achieved a superb record of ser-
vice which reflects the highest credit upon its officers and men
and
the United States Naval Service.”
For the President,
(Signed) James Forrestal
Secretary of the Navy
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