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 Second Lieutenant (Air Service) Franklin B. Bellows, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 50th Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near St. Mihiel, France, 13 September 1918. Second Lieutenant Bellows, with Second Lieutenant David C. Beebe, pilot, executed a reconnaissance mission early in the morning of the second day of the St. Mihiel offensive in spite of low clouds, high winds, and mist, flying at an altitude of only 300 meters, and without protection of accompanying battle planes. Although subjected to severe fire from ground batteries, they penetrated 8 kilometers beyond the German lines. Lieutenant Beebe's motor was badly damaged, and Lieutenant Bellows was mortally wounded and died just after the disabled machine landed safely in friendly territory. General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 124 (1918)