Title
Distinguished Flying Cross of Charles Bonness
Description
A bronze, Templar cross medal with a four-bladed propeller overtop and sitting on a square made of rays. The reverse is blank, and the medal hangs from a bronze bar. The Ribbon is navy blue with three vertical white stripes and a single vertical red stripe running up the central white stripe.
The medal and bar (2025.4.24) 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).
The medal and bar (2025.4.24) 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).
Collection
Charles Bonness Collection
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.
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.
Accession #
2025.4
