Samuel Worth Bishop

Colonel, U. S. Air Force

Silver Star

GENERAL ORDERS:
Authority: "Heroes of Pearl Harbor", Donald K. & Helen L. Ross
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Samuel W. Bishop, United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while serving with the 44th Pursuit Squadron, 18th Pursuit Group, at Bellows Field and over the Island of Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, and waters adjacent thereto, on 7 December 1941. When surprised by a heavy air attack by Japanese Forces on Bellows Field and the vicinity, and while under fire, First Lieutenant Bishop attempted to take off to engage the enemy, and in so doing was wounded and his plane so badly damaged that he was forced to make a crash landing in the waters nearby, and though wounded managed to swim ashore.
Lieutenant Bishop's initiative, presence of mind, coolness under fire against overwhelming odds in his first battle, and determined action contributed to a large extent toward driving off this sudden enemy air attack.