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Robert Lee Cliett Jr.

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Robert Lee Cliett Jr.

Birth
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, USA
Death
27 Oct 1995 (aged 76)
Duval County, Florida, USA
Burial
Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Navy Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] Robert Lee Cliett, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Bombing Squadron ONE (VFB-1), attached to the U.S.S. BENNINGTON (CV-20), in action against major units of the enemy Japanese Fleet at the Kure Naval Base, Japan, on 28 July 1945. In the face of intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire from numerous warships and from several strategically-located shore batteries, Lieutenant Commander Cliett courageously led his four-plane division through adverse weather in a well-coordinated attack against a heavy cruiser. Pressing home to low altitude, he scored a direct hit on the hostile vessel while other planes in his division obtained a second hit and a near miss, inflicting serious damage. By his airmanship and aggressive fighting spirit, Lieutenant Commander Cliett contributed materially to the success of an epic strike in which all capital ships of the Japanese Fleet near Kure were either sunk or damaged. His devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Navy Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] Robert Lee Cliett, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Bombing Squadron ONE (VFB-1), attached to the U.S.S. BENNINGTON (CV-20), in action against major units of the enemy Japanese Fleet at the Kure Naval Base, Japan, on 28 July 1945. In the face of intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire from numerous warships and from several strategically-located shore batteries, Lieutenant Commander Cliett courageously led his four-plane division through adverse weather in a well-coordinated attack against a heavy cruiser. Pressing home to low altitude, he scored a direct hit on the hostile vessel while other planes in his division obtained a second hit and a near miss, inflicting serious damage. By his airmanship and aggressive fighting spirit, Lieutenant Commander Cliett contributed materially to the success of an epic strike in which all capital ships of the Japanese Fleet near Kure were either sunk or damaged. His devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

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