page_title: Cecil E. Harris
section_title: Awards and decorations
hierarchical_section_title: Cecil E. Harris / Awards and decorations
caption_attribution_description: English: U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher presents the Navy Cross, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Gold Star in lieu of second DFC to Lieutenant Cecil E. Harris on 17 January 1945.
context_page_description: Captain Cecil Elwood "Cece" Harris was an American schoolteacher, naval aviator and flying ace of World War II. Harris is remembered for actions in the Pacific Ocean Theater, which earned him nine combat medals including the Navy Cross, the highest award for valor after the Medal of Honor. He ended the war as the navy's second-highest-scoring ace after David McCampbell, credited with shooting down 24 Japanese planes. Harris scored 16 of his aerial victories in four different days, downing four enemy aircraft on each of those days. Never during the course of his 88-day tour with VF-18 did a bullet hit his aircraft. It has been said that Harris "was arguably the most consistently exceptional fighter pilot in the US Navy".
context_section_description: Harris received the following decorations:
caption: Vice Adimral Marc A. Mitscher presents the Navy Cross, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Gold Star in lieu of a second DFC to Lieutenant Cecil E. Harris on January 17, 1945[81]
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