General Eisenhower awards Colonel Don Blakeslee, 4th Fighter Group CO, the Distinguished Service Cross after pinning the same award on Captain Don Gentile, 4th Fighter Group pilot. This scene was actually a reenactment for the press. The general had already previously given Blakeslee and Gentile their awards during a ceremony in the Debden briefing room, void of nosey cameramen. Official caption on back: “England - General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander of the Invasion Forces, presents the Distinguished Service Cross, second highest U.S. Award, to Colonel Donald J. M. Blakeslee, Commanding Officer of the ETO’s highest scoring fighter group accounting for 405 e/a ‘kills’. Colonel Blakeslee with 10 ‘kills’ to his credit, holds Distinguished Flying Cross and three clusters, Air Medal and three clusters, British Star and British Distinguished Flying Cross presented to him by King George at Buckingham Palace. Capt. Don S. Gentile, 23, of Piqua, Ohio, credited with highest record of ‘kills’ totaling thirty (23 in the air and 7 on ground) has just been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by General Eisenhower. Capt. Gentile holds the Distinguished Flying Cross and three clusters, Air Medal and three clusters, and British Star.” Spring, 1944.