Henry Robinson Clay, Jr.

1st Lieutenant, U. S. Army Air Service

Distinguished Service Cross

GENERAL ORDERS:
War Department, General Orders No. 60 (1920)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Air Service) Henry Robinson Clay, Jr., United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 148th Aero Squadron, 4th Pursuit Group, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near Sains-les-Marquion, France, 4 September 1918.
In an action wherein Lieutenant Clay's patrol was outnumbered two-to-one, he attacked the group and shot down the enemy aircraft in flames. He continued in the combat and later attacked two enemy aircraft which were pursuing a plane of his patrol and succeeded in shooting one enemy aircraft down.
Again, on 27 September 1918, near Cambrai, France, with one other pilot, Lieutenant Clay observed five enemy planes approaching our lines and, although hopelessly outnumbered, immediately attacked and singled out a plane which was seen to crash to the ground. He was immediately attacked by the other enemy planes and compelled to fight his way back to our lines.

GENERAL ORDERS:
GHQ, American Expeditionary Forces, Citation Orders No. 1 (June 3, 1919)
CITATION:
By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), First Lieutenant (Air Service) Henry Robinson Clay, Jr., United States Army, is cited for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. (Posthumously)

Awarded the British Distinguished Flying Cross. (Posthumously).