Name/Title
Distinguished Fly Cross Ribbon Bar of Charles BonnessDescription
The medal bar ribbon is navy blue with three vertical white stripes and a single vertical red stripe running up the central white stripe.
The medal (2025.4.23) and ribbon bar came in the original blue, leather box with cream velvet lining. Also in the box was a newspaper clipping about Charles Bonness receiving the medal(2025.4.25).Use
The Distinguished Flying Cross is awarded by the US Armed Forces to those who distinguish themselves by heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight.Context
Earned by Charles "Chuck" Bonness for his naval service. The Presidental Citation for this Distinguished Flying Cross reads:
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Seaman First Class Charles Joseph Bonness (NSN: 2834939), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as rear seat gunner in an airplane of a Scouting Squadron, in action against Japanese forces in the Coral Sea on 8 May 1942. Seaman First Class Bonness shot down one or more enemy aircraft while repelling an attack by numerous enemy fighter planes. His coolness, alertness, skill, and disregard for personal safety were directly responsible for the destruction of the enemy plane."
Charles Bonness was a seaman 2/c class aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-5) and a rear-gunner aboard an SBD Dauntless in Scouting Squadron Five (VS-5). Bonness was reported missing in action after the Battle of the Coral Sea on May 8, 1942.Collection
Charles Bonness CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2025.4Source or Donor
Kaellah FowlerAcquisition Method
DonationUpdate Date
April 22, 2025