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Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)

July 21, 2023

Not to be confused with Air Force Cross (United States) or Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom).

The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. The medal was established on July 2, 1926, and is currently awarded to any persons who, after April 6, 1917, distinguish themselves by single acts of heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. Both heroism and extraordinary achievement are entirely distinctive, involving operations that are not routine.[6][7] The medal may be awarded to friendly foreign military members in ranks equivalent to U.S. Pay Grade of O-6 and below, in actual combat in support operations.

Distinguished Flying Cross
TypeMilitary Decoration
Awarded for"Heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight"
Presented by
StatusCurrently awarded
Established2 July 1926[5]
First awarded2 May 1927
Service ribbon
Precedence
Next (higher)Legion of Merit[6]
Next (lower)

History

 
LTG Ray Odierno presents Distinguished Flying Crosses to Army aviators in Iraq
 
As part of a twilight tattoo event at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., held on honor of the Army's 242nd birthday, Acting Secretary of the Army Robert Speer, left, and Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, right, present a posthumous Distinguished Flying Cross for Army Capt. James E. Miller to Miller's great-grandson, Byron Derringer, center, June 14, 2017.

The first award of the Distinguished Flying Cross was made by President Calvin Coolidge on May 2, 1927, to ten aviators of the U.S. Army Air Corps who had participated in the Army Pan American Flight which took place from December 21, 1926, to May 2, 1927. Two of the airmen died in a mid-air collision trying to land at Buenos Aires on February 26, 1927, and received their awards posthumously. The award had only been authorized by Congress the previous year and no medals had yet been struck, so the Pan American airmen initially received only certificates. Among the ten airmen were Major Herbert Dargue, Captains Ira C. Eaker and Muir S. Fairchild, and First Lieutenant Ennis C. Whitehead.

Charles Lindbergh received the first presentation of the actual medal about a month later from Coolidge during the Washington, D.C., homecoming reception on June 11, 1927, from his trans-Atlantic flight. The medal had hurriedly been struck and readied just for that occasion. The 1927 War Department General Order (G.O. 8) authorizing Lindbergh's DFC states that it was awarded by the president, while the General Order (G.O. 6) for the Pan American Flyers' DFC citation notes that the War Department awarded it "by direction of the President." The first Distinguished Flying Cross to be awarded to a Naval aviator was received by Commander Richard E. Byrd, USN for his trans-Atlantic flight from June 29 to July 1, 1927, from New York City to the coast of France. Byrd and his pilot Machinist Floyd Bennett had already received the Medal of Honor for their historic flight to the North Pole on May 9, 1926.

The first posthumous award of the Distinguished Flying Cross was made on June 14, 2017, when 95th Aero Squadron Commander and Army Captain James Ely Miller was recognized for actions on March 9, 1918, which made him the first American aviator to die in the war.[8]

Numerous recipients of the medal earned greater fame in other occupations; a number of astronauts, actors, and politicians have been Distinguished Flying Cross recipients, including President George H. W. Bush. The DFC may be retroactively awarded to recognize notable accomplishments made at any time after the beginning of American participation in World War I. On February 23, 1929, Congress passed special legislation to allow the award of the DFC to the Wright brothers for their December 17, 1903, flight. Other civilians who have received the award include Wiley Post, Jacqueline Cochran, Roscoe Turner, Amelia Earhart, Glenn H. Curtiss, and Eugene Ely. Eventually, it was limited to military personnel by an Executive Order. Amelia Earhart became the first woman to receive the DFC on July 29, 1932, when it was presented to her by Vice President Charles Curtis in Los Angeles for her solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean earlier that year.

World War II

During World War II, the medal's award criteria varied widely depending on the theater of operations, aerial combat that was engaged in, and the missions that were accomplished. In the Pacific, commissioned officers were often awarded the DFC, while enlisted men were given the Air Medal. In Europe, some crews received it for their overall performance through a tour of duty. The criteria used were however not consistent between commands or over time.[9] Individual achievement could also result in the medal being awarded. For example, George McGovern received one for the successful completion of a bombing mission in which his aircraft lost an engine and then was landed safely.[10] On December 28, 1944, Aleda Lutz became the first military woman to receive the DFC, which she received posthumously.[11]

Criteria

The Distinguished Flying Cross was authorized by Section 12 of the United States Army Air Corps Act enacted by Congress on July 2, 1926,[12] as amended by Executive Order 7786 on January 8, 1938[7] and USC 10, 9279. This act provided for the award to be given to any person who distinguishes themselves "by heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight" while serving in any capacity with the Air Corps.[7]

Appearance

The Distinguished Flying Cross was designed by Elizabeth Will and Arthur E. DuBois.[7] The medal is a bronze cross pattee, on whose obverse is superimposed a four-bladed propeller, 1 11/16 inches in width. Five rays extend from the reentrant angles, forming a one-inch square. The reverse is blank; it is suitable for engraving the recipient's name and rank. The cross is suspended from a rectangular bar.

The suspension and service ribbon of the medal is 1 3/8 inches wide and consists of the following stripes: 3/32 inch Ultramarine Blue 67118; 9/64 inch White 67101; 11/32 inch Ultramarine Blue 67118; 3/64 inch White 67101; center stripe 3/32 inch Old Glory Red 67156; 3/64 inch White 67101; 11/32 inch Ultramarine Blue 67118; 9/64 inch White 67101; 3/32 inch Ultramarine Blue 67118.[7]

Devices

Additional awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross are shown with bronze or silver Oak Leaf Clusters for the Army, Air Force, and Space Force, and gold and silver 5⁄16 Inch Stars for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

The Army, Air Force, Space Force, Navy, and Marine Corps may authorize the "V" device for wear on the DFC to denote valor in combat. The services can also award the DFC for extraordinary achievement without the "V" device.

On January 7, 2016, a Secretary of Defense memorandum standardized the use of the "V" device as a valor-only device across the services. The Department of Defense published "DOD Manuals 1348.33, Volumes 1-4, DOD Military Decorations and Awards" which unified the criteria for awards. DOD 1348.33. "Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards" authorizes use of the "V" Device with the DFC for combat valor and the "C" Device for meritorious service or achievement under combat conditions.

DFC National Memorial Act

In July 2014, the United States Senate passed the Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial Act. The act was sponsored by Senator Barbara Boxer, to designate the Distinguished Flying Cross Memorial at March Field Air Museum adjacent to March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, California, as a national memorial to recognize members of United States Armed Forces who have distinguished themselves by heroism in aerial flight.[13] The act was signed into law by President Barack Obama on July 25, 2014.[14]

Notable recipients of the DFC

Note: the rank indicated is the highest held by the individual.

Astronauts

Note: Although astronaut Neil Armstrong's achievements as an aviator and an astronaut more than exceeded the requirements for the DFC, he was a civilian for his entire career with NASA, requiring an act of Congress to award the medal.

Political figures

Civilians

  • Glenn Curtiss: aircraft designer. Posthumously awarded in 1933.[15]
  • Amelia Earhart: legendary aviator. First woman to receive the DFC by an Act of Congress in 1932.[16]
  • Eugene Burton Ely: first person to make a ship-board landing in an aircraft. Posthumously awarded in 1933.
  • Harold Gatty: Navigator with Wiley Post on record-breaking around the world flight. Awarded in 1932.[17]
  • Wiley Post: completed record-breaking around-the-world flight and was the first person to fly solo around the world. Awarded in 1932.[18]
  • Roscoe Turner: flamboyant air racing champion. Presented in 1952. (Last award of the DFC to a civilian.)[19]
  • Orville Wright: aviation pioneer. Awarded by Act of Congress on December 18, 1928.[20]
  • Wilbur Wright: aviation pioneer. Posthumously awarded by Act of Congress on December 18, 1928.[20]

Foreign citizens

Celebrities

United States Air Force, Army Air Forces, and Army Air Corps

United States Marine Corps

United States Navy

United States Coast Guard

United States Army

See also

References

  1. ^ (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-01-11. Retrieved 2018-01-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-16. Retrieved 2012-02-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ (PDF). static.e-publishing.af.mil. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-01-27. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
  4. ^ "Info" (PDF). media.defense.gov. 2017.
  5. ^ "Executive Order 4601". Archives.gov (National Archives and Records Administration). Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  6. ^ a b (PDF). US Department of Defense. 23 November 2010. pp. 17–18, 50. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 22, 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  7. ^ a b c d e . The Institute of Heraldry: Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the ARMY. Archived from the original on 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2013-12-21.
  8. ^ "First fallen aviator of World War I honored with Distinguished Flying Cross". www.army.mil. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  9. ^ Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal Criteria in the Army Air Forces in World War II
  10. ^ George McGovern's WWII Diary
  11. ^ Iskra, Darlene M.. Women in the United States Armed Forces: A Guide to the Issues. United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010.
  12. ^ Mooney, Charles C. and Layman, Martha E. (1944). (PDF). Air Force Historical Study No. 25. AFHRA (USAF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-27. Retrieved 14 Dec 2010., Appendix 5, p. 127.
  13. ^ . Archived from the original on 2014-11-01. Retrieved 2014-11-01.
  14. ^ . senate.gov. Archived from the original on 23 November 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  15. ^ Awarded by Act of Congress March 1, 1933.
  16. ^ Awarded by Act of Congress July 2, 1932.
  17. ^ Awarded by Act of Congress July 11, 1932.
  18. ^ Awarded by Act of Congress July 11, 1932. Died in a plane crash with Will Rogers.
  19. ^ Awarded by Act of Congress in 1949 and presented in 1952.
  20. ^ a b Awarded by Act of Congress December 18, 1928.
  21. ^ AIR FORCE HISTORICAL RESEARCH AGENCY. "TUSKEGEE AIRMEN CHRONOLOGY." DANIEL L. HAULMAN. 24 November 2015. Page 65. http://www.spiritof45.org/TUSKEGEE%20AIRMEN%20CHRONOLOGY.pdf
  22. ^ "Douglas MacArthur – Distinguished Flying Cross, Awarded for Actions During Korean War". Hall of Valor Project. from the original on 2020-07-30. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  23. ^ . militarytimes.com. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2016.

Further reading

  • Spink, Barry L. (4 March 2010). "Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal Criteria in the Army Air Forces in World War II in Rough Chronological Sequence" (PDF). Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 21 May 2020.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Distinguished Flying Cross.
  • The Distinguished Flying Cross Society
  • Texas Military Veteran Video Oral Histories Digital Collection - Veterans Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross -- Newton Gresham Library, Sam Houston State University

July 21, 2023
distinguished, flying, cross, united, states, confused, with, force, cross, united, states, distinguished, flying, cross, united, kingdom, distinguished, flying, cross, military, decoration, united, states, armed, forces, medal, established, july, 1926, curren. Not to be confused with Air Force Cross United States or Distinguished Flying Cross United Kingdom The Distinguished Flying Cross DFC is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces The medal was established on July 2 1926 and is currently awarded to any persons who after April 6 1917 distinguish themselves by single acts of heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight Both heroism and extraordinary achievement are entirely distinctive involving operations that are not routine 6 7 The medal may be awarded to friendly foreign military members in ranks equivalent to U S Pay Grade of O 6 and below in actual combat in support operations Distinguished Flying CrossTypeMilitary DecorationAwarded for Heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight Presented byU S Department of the Army 1 U S Department of the Navy 2 U S Department of the Air Force 3 U S Department of Homeland Security 4 StatusCurrently awardedEstablished2 July 1926 5 First awarded2 May 1927Service ribbonPrecedenceNext higher Legion of Merit 6 Next lower Army Soldier s Medal Naval Service Navy and Marine Corps Medal Air and Space Forces Airman s Medal Coast Guard Coast Guard Medal Contents 1 History 2 World War II 3 Criteria 4 Appearance 4 1 Devices 5 DFC National Memorial Act 6 Notable recipients of the DFC 6 1 Astronauts 6 2 Political figures 6 3 Civilians 6 4 Foreign citizens 6 5 Celebrities 6 6 United States Air Force Army Air Forces and Army Air Corps 6 7 United States Marine Corps 6 8 United States Navy 6 9 United States Coast Guard 6 10 United States Army 7 See also 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External linksHistory Edit LTG Ray Odierno presents Distinguished Flying Crosses to Army aviators in Iraq As part of a twilight tattoo event at Joint Base Myer Henderson Hall Va held on honor of the Army s 242nd birthday Acting Secretary of the Army Robert Speer left and Chief of Staff of the Army Gen Mark A Milley right present a posthumous Distinguished Flying Cross for Army Capt James E Miller to Miller s great grandson Byron Derringer center June 14 2017 The first award of the Distinguished Flying Cross was made by President Calvin Coolidge on May 2 1927 to ten aviators of the U S Army Air Corps who had participated in the Army Pan American Flight which took place from December 21 1926 to May 2 1927 Two of the airmen died in a mid air collision trying to land at Buenos Aires on February 26 1927 and received their awards posthumously The award had only been authorized by Congress the previous year and no medals had yet been struck so the Pan American airmen initially received only certificates Among the ten airmen were Major Herbert Dargue Captains Ira C Eaker and Muir S Fairchild and First Lieutenant Ennis C Whitehead Charles Lindbergh received the first presentation of the actual medal about a month later from Coolidge during the Washington D C homecoming reception on June 11 1927 from his trans Atlantic flight The medal had hurriedly been struck and readied just for that occasion The 1927 War Department General Order G O 8 authorizing Lindbergh s DFC states that it was awarded by the president while the General Order G O 6 for the Pan American Flyers DFC citation notes that the War Department awarded it by direction of the President The first Distinguished Flying Cross to be awarded to a Naval aviator was received by Commander Richard E Byrd USN for his trans Atlantic flight from June 29 to July 1 1927 from New York City to the coast of France Byrd and his pilot Machinist Floyd Bennett had already received the Medal of Honor for their historic flight to the North Pole on May 9 1926 The first posthumous award of the Distinguished Flying Cross was made on June 14 2017 when 95th Aero Squadron Commander and Army Captain James Ely Miller was recognized for actions on March 9 1918 which made him the first American aviator to die in the war 8 Numerous recipients of the medal earned greater fame in other occupations a number of astronauts actors and politicians have been Distinguished Flying Cross recipients including President George H W Bush The DFC may be retroactively awarded to recognize notable accomplishments made at any time after the beginning of American participation in World War I On February 23 1929 Congress passed special legislation to allow the award of the DFC to the Wright brothers for their December 17 1903 flight Other civilians who have received the award include Wiley Post Jacqueline Cochran Roscoe Turner Amelia Earhart Glenn H Curtiss and Eugene Ely Eventually it was limited to military personnel by an Executive Order Amelia Earhart became the first woman to receive the DFC on July 29 1932 when it was presented to her by Vice President Charles Curtis in Los Angeles for her solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean earlier that year World War II EditDuring World War II the medal s award criteria varied widely depending on the theater of operations aerial combat that was engaged in and the missions that were accomplished In the Pacific commissioned officers were often awarded the DFC while enlisted men were given the Air Medal In Europe some crews received it for their overall performance through a tour of duty The criteria used were however not consistent between commands or over time 9 Individual achievement could also result in the medal being awarded For example George McGovern received one for the successful completion of a bombing mission in which his aircraft lost an engine and then was landed safely 10 On December 28 1944 Aleda Lutz became the first military woman to receive the DFC which she received posthumously 11 Criteria EditThe Distinguished Flying Cross was authorized by Section 12 of the United States Army Air Corps Act enacted by Congress on July 2 1926 12 as amended by Executive Order 7786 on January 8 1938 7 and USC 10 9279 This act provided for the award to be given to any person who distinguishes themselves by heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight while serving in any capacity with the Air Corps 7 Appearance EditThe Distinguished Flying Cross was designed by Elizabeth Will and Arthur E DuBois 7 The medal is a bronze cross pattee on whose obverse is superimposed a four bladed propeller 1 11 16 inches in width Five rays extend from the reentrant angles forming a one inch square The reverse is blank it is suitable for engraving the recipient s name and rank The cross is suspended from a rectangular bar The suspension and service ribbon of the medal is 1 3 8 inches wide and consists of the following stripes 3 32 inch Ultramarine Blue 67118 9 64 inch White 67101 11 32 inch Ultramarine Blue 67118 3 64 inch White 67101 center stripe 3 32 inch Old Glory Red 67156 3 64 inch White 67101 11 32 inch Ultramarine Blue 67118 9 64 inch White 67101 3 32 inch Ultramarine Blue 67118 7 Devices Edit Additional awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross are shown with bronze or silver Oak Leaf Clusters for the Army Air Force and Space Force and gold and silver 5 16 Inch Stars for the Navy Marine Corps and Coast Guard The Army Air Force Space Force Navy and Marine Corps may authorize the V device for wear on the DFC to denote valor in combat The services can also award the DFC for extraordinary achievement without the V device On January 7 2016 a Secretary of Defense memorandum standardized the use of the V device as a valor only device across the services The Department of Defense published DOD Manuals 1348 33 Volumes 1 4 DOD Military Decorations and Awards which unified the criteria for awards DOD 1348 33 Army Regulation 600 8 22 Military Awards authorizes use of the V Device with the DFC for combat valor and the C Device for meritorious service or achievement under combat conditions DFC National Memorial Act EditIn July 2014 the United States Senate passed the Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial Act The act was sponsored by Senator Barbara Boxer to designate the Distinguished Flying Cross Memorial at March Field Air Museum adjacent to March Air Reserve Base in Riverside California as a national memorial to recognize members of United States Armed Forces who have distinguished themselves by heroism in aerial flight 13 The act was signed into law by President Barack Obama on July 25 2014 14 Notable recipients of the DFC EditNote the rank indicated is the highest held by the individual Astronauts Edit Lieutenant General Thomas P Stafford USAF flew to the Moon on Apollo 10 commander of the Apollo Soyuz mission Major General Michael Collins USAF command module pilot for Apollo 11 mission to the Moon Major General Joe Engle USAF X 15 and Space Shuttle pilot Rear Admiral Alan Shepard USN one of the original seven American astronauts first American in space in Freedom 7 commanded Apollo 14 Brigadier General James McDivitt USAF commander of Gemini 4 and Apollo 9 Colonel Buzz Aldrin USAF Lunar Module pilot for Apollo 11 second man to walk on the Moon Colonel Frank Borman USAF commander of Apollo 8 Colonel Eileen Collins USAF first woman to command a space shuttle mission Colonel Gordon Cooper USAF one of the original seven American astronauts pilot of Faith 7 and commander of Gemini 5 Colonel Guy Gardner Space Shuttle pilot and recipient of three DFCs Colonel John Glenn USMC 5 awards One of the original seven American astronauts first American to orbit the earth in Friendship 7 and United States Senator Colonel David Scott USAF flew on Gemini 8 Apollo 9 and Apollo 15 Captain Eugene Cernan USN pilot of Gemini 9A lunar module pilot of Apollo 10 and commander of Apollo 17 One of only 3 persons to have flown to the Moon twice Captain Pete Conrad USN commander of Apollo 12 and Skylab 2 Captain Robert Crippen USN pilot on first space shuttle mission Captain Mark Kelly USN pilot on four space shuttle missions commander for two including the final mission of Space Shuttle Endeavour and recipient of 2 DFCs Captain Scott Kelly USN Lived for one year on the International Space Station Captain Jim Lovell USN pilot of Gemini 7 Commander of Gemini 12 Command Module Pilot of Apollo 8 and Commander of Apollo 13 Captain Wally Schirra USN one of the original seven American astronauts who flew on Sigma 7 Gemini 6A and as commander of Apollo 7 Captain John Young USN flew on Apollo 10 and Apollo 16 commander of the first space shuttle mission Lieutenant Colonel Duane Carey USAF Space Shuttle pilot Awarded with Valor Device Lieutenant Colonel Gus Grissom USAF one of the original seven American astronauts second American in space on Liberty Bell 7 Commander Scott Carpenter USN one of the original seven American astronauts flew on Aurora 7 and aquanaut with SEALAB project Major Deke Slayton USAF one of the original seven American astronauts NASA chief astronaut and docking module pilot for the Apollo Soyuz mission Note Although astronaut Neil Armstrong s achievements as an aviator and an astronaut more than exceeded the requirements for the DFC he was a civilian for his entire career with NASA requiring an act of Congress to award the medal Political figures Edit Lieutenant George H W Bush USNR President of the United States Major General Patrick J Hurley USAR Secretary of War Rear Admiral Jeremiah Denton USN US Senator Brigadier General Joe Foss ANG Medal of Honor recipient and Governor of South Dakota Colonel Bruce Sundlun USAFR Governor of Rhode Island Colonel Lloyd Bentsen USAFR US Senator Secretary of the Treasury and vice presidential candidate Colonel Alexander Butterfield USAF aide to President Richard Nixon Captain John S McCain III USN US Senator and presidential candidate Captain Jim Wright USAAF Speaker of the US House of Representatives Captain Bruce Alger USAAF US Representative Captain Peter H Dominick USAAF US Senator Captain William Hathaway USAAF US Senator Captain Joseph McCarthy USMC US Senator Captain Gentner Drummond USAF Attorney General of Oklahoma First Lieutenant George McGovern USAAF US Senator presidential candidate First Lieutenant Ted Stevens USAAF US Senator First Lieutenant Richard Harding Poff USAAF US Representative First Lieutenant John Ehrlichman USAAF aide to President Richard Nixon First Lieutenant Brendan Byrne USAAC Governor of New Jersey Civilians Edit Glenn Curtiss aircraft designer Posthumously awarded in 1933 15 Amelia Earhart legendary aviator First woman to receive the DFC by an Act of Congress in 1932 16 Eugene Burton Ely first person to make a ship board landing in an aircraft Posthumously awarded in 1933 Harold Gatty Navigator with Wiley Post on record breaking around the world flight Awarded in 1932 17 Wiley Post completed record breaking around the world flight and was the first person to fly solo around the world Awarded in 1932 18 Roscoe Turner flamboyant air racing champion Presented in 1952 Last award of the DFC to a civilian 19 Orville Wright aviation pioneer Awarded by Act of Congress on December 18 1928 20 Wilbur Wright aviation pioneer Posthumously awarded by Act of Congress on December 18 1928 20 Foreign citizens Edit Wing Commander James Blackburn RAF distinguished British pilot during World War II Wing Commander A Warburton RAF distinguished British reconnaissance pilot during World War II Squadron Leader Robert Stanford Tuck RAF distinguished British pilot and flying ace during World War II Colonel Francesco De Pinedo Regia Aeronautica completed the Four Continents Flight in a flying boat in 1927 Lieutenant Colonel Dieudonne Costes French Army completed around the world flight Lieutenant Commander Joseph Le Brix French Navy completed around the world flight Commandant James Fitzmaurice Irish Air Corps Flew on first non stop westward crossing of the Atlantic Ocean on the Bremen Major Arthur Chin Republic of China Air Force Chinese American fighter ace Captain Hermann Kohl German Army flew on first non stop westward crossing of the Atlantic Ocean Baron Ehrenfried Gunther Freiherr von Hunefeld German aristocrat flew on first non stop westward crossing of the Atlantic Ocean Celebrities Edit Brigadier General James Stewart USAFR World War II B 24 pilot and Group Operations Officer Academy Award winning actor Brigadier General Chuck Yeager USAF test pilot and first human to break the sound barrier Lieutenant Colonel Jerry Coleman USMC World War II and Korean War pilot Second baseman for the New York Yankees and long time broadcaster for the San Diego Padres Major Clark Gable USAAF Star of Gone with the Wind who flew on five bombing missions during World War II Major Wolfgang Reitherman USAAF World War pilot Animator director and producer for Disney animated movies Captain Don Herbert USAAF World War II B 24 pilot Creator and host of the Watch Mr Wizard and Mr Wizard s World television programs Captain Gene Roddenberry USAAF Creator of the Star Trek television series and franchise Captain Dan Rowan USAAF P 40 Warhawk pilot and star of Laugh In Captain Cal Worthington USAAF Legendary car salesman First Lieutenant Jack Valente USAAF Longtime president of the Motion Picture Association of America Corporal Sabu Dastagir USAAF Indian American actor who served as a B 24 tail gunner during World War II United States Air Force Army Air Forces and Army Air Corps Edit General of the Air Force Henry H Arnold USAF commander of the US Army Air Forces during World War II General Samuel E Anderson USAF commander of the 5th Air Force during the Korean War General Jimmy Doolittle USAF leader of the Doolittle Raid General Leon W Johnson USAF leader in the Ploesti Raid and commander of the Continental Air Command General George S Brown USAF Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Ira C Eaker USAF commander of the 8th Air Force during World War II General Charles A Gabriel USAF Chief of Staff or the U S Air Force recipient of five DFCs General Daniel James Jr USAF first African American US Air Force four star general General David C Jones USAF Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General George C Kenney USAF first commander of Strategic Air Command General Curtis Lemay USAF Air Force Chief of Staff and vice presidential candidate General Seth J McKee USAF NORAD commander and D Day veteran General John C Meyer USAF commander of Strategic Air Command Seven DFCs General Richard B Myers USAF Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph W Ralston USAF Supreme Allied Commander for NATO General Carl Spaatz USAF first Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force General Nathan F Twining USAF Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Lieutenant General Frank Maxwell Andrews USAAF died in an accident in 1943 Lieutenant General Royal N Baker USAF flew combat missions in World War II Korea and Vietnam Lieutenant General Lewis H Brereton USAF commander of the Ninth Air Force during World War II Lieutenant General George H Brett USAF commander of the Caribbean Defense Command in World War II Lieutenant General Claire Lee Chennault USAF commander of the Flying Tigers Lieutenant General Benjamin O Davis Jr USAF first African American US Air Force general Lieutenant General Robert E Kelley USAF Vietnam War combat pilot and USAFA Superintendent Lieutenant General Elwood Richard Quesada USAF first commander of Tactical Air Command Lieutenant General George E Stratemeyer USAF commander of Far East Air Forces during the Korean War Major General Orvil A Anderson USAF participant in altitude record setting Air Corps Stratospheric Balloon Flights in Explorer I and Explorer II in 1934 and 1935 Major General David M Jones USAF Doolittle Raider and recipient of two DFCs Major General Uzal Girard Ent USAAF leader of the Ploesti Raid Major General Caleb V Haynes USAF bomber commander of the China Air Task Force Major General Frank O Driscoll Hunter USAAF Major General Robert Olds USAAF father of ace Robin Olds Major General Robert A Rushworth USAF X 15 pilot Major General Clarence A Shoop USAAF WWII observation pilot Major General Mele Mel Vojvodich USAF pilot for the CIA in Vietnam three DFCs Brigadier General Frederick Walker Castle USAAF four DFCs Brigadier General E Daniel Cherry USAF ten DFCs Brigadier General Gerald Goodfellow USAF B1 Lancer offensive systems officer awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for action during Operation Allied Force Brigadier General Charles A Lindbergh USAFR first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean Brigadier General Robin Olds USAF combat pilot in World War II and Vietnam War and recipient of six DFCs Brigadier General Richard Stephen Ritchie USAF only USAF pilot to achieve ace status during the Vietnam War with five kills Brigadier General Elliott Roosevelt USAAF son of President Franklin Roosevelt Brigadier General Robert Lee Scott Jr USAF fighter pilot who earned three DFCs Brigadier General Dale E Stovall USAF Vietnam War CSAR pilot who rescued Roger Locher deepest rescue inside North Vietnam Brigadier General Kenneth M Taylor USAF one of the few American fighter pilots to get airborne during the attack on Pearl Harbor Brigadier General Paul Tibbets USAF pilot of the Enola Gay Colonel Bernt Balchen USAF pilot of the first plane to fly over the South Pole Colonel Kim Campbell USAF for successfully completing her mission supporting ground troops over Baghdad in April 2003 and successfully landing her A 10 back at base despite sustaining severe damage to her aircraft Colonel Jacqueline Cochran USAFR multiple record setting aviator first woman to break the sound barrier and commander of the Women Airforce Service Pilots WASPs during World War II Colonel George Day USAF POW during the Vietnam War Colonel Merlyn Hans Dethlefsen USAF Vietnam War F 105 pilot Colonel Bernard F Fisher USAF Vietnam War A 1 Skyraider pilot Colonel James P Fleming USAF Vietnam War helicopter pilot Colonel Joe M Jackson USAF combat veteran of World War II the Korean War and the Vietnam War Colonel John R Kane USAF leader in the Ploesti Raid Colonel Gabby Gabreski USAF highest scoring American ace in the European Theater with 34 kills Recipient of 13 DFCs Colonel Jose L Holguin USAF Silver Star recipient and POW during World War II Colonel James K Johnson USAF Korean war ace with 11 kills Recipient of three DFCs Colonel Charles H MacDonald USAF recipient of six DFCs Colonel Ashley Chadbourne McKinley USAF Photographer on first flight over the South Pole Colonel Russell Maughan USAAF completed first dawn to dusk transcontinental flight Colonel David C Schilling USAF recipient of 11 DFCs Colonel Lowell Smith USAAF conducted first aerial refueling and commanded first aerial circumnavigation of the globe Colonel Robert E Thacker USAF pilot of record breaking flight from Honolulu to New York and recipient of three DFCs Colonel Leo K Thorsness USAF Medal of Honor recipient and Vietnam War veteran Lieutenant Colonel Lee Archer USAF first African American fighter ace Lieutenant Colonel Leaford Bearskin USAF veteran of World War II and Korea and also Chief of the Wyandotte Nation Lieutenant Colonel Everett Ernest Blakely USAF B 17 Pilot in WW II Received this medal after a bombing mission to Trondheim Norway Lieutenant Colonel Louis Edward Curdes USAAF Recipient of two DFCs One of only three American WW II pilots to shoot down German Italian and Japanese planes He also intentionally shot down an American plane Lieutenant Colonel George A Davis USAF high scoring Korean War ace Lieutenant Colonel Bill Harris aviator USAF WW2 Triple ace fighter pilot Lieutenant Colonel Michael J Novosel USAFR Vietnam War helicopter pilot Medal of Honor recipient three DFCs Lieutenant Colonel Robert S Johnson USAFR recipient of nine DFCs Lieutenant Colonel Arthur W Murray USAF early jet test pilot Lieutenant Colonel Dick Rutan USAF piloted first unrefueled non stop around the world flight Recipient of five DFCs Lieutenant Colonel Albert William Stevens USAAF participant in both the Explorer I and Explorer II stratospheric balloon flights Lieutenant Colonel Boyd Wagner USAAC first Army Air Corps ace of World War II Lieutenant Colonel Ray Shuey Wetmore USAAF 21 aerial victories during World War II Received six DFCs Lieutenant Colonel Gerald O Young USAF Vietnam War helicopter pilot Lieutenant Colonel Jay Zeamer Jr USAF World War II Medal of Honor recipient Lieutenant Colonel Dan Two Dogs Hampton USAF received four DFC s as a Wild Weasel surface to air missile killer Major Richard Bong USAAF highest scoring American ace of World War II Major Horace S Carswell Jr USAAF World War II bomber pilot Major George Andrew Davis Jr USAF Ace in both World War II and the Korean War Four DFCs Major Charles J Loring Jr USAF World War II POW and Korean War F 80 Shooting Star pilot Major Thomas McGuire USAAF second highest scoring American ace in World War II with 38 kills Six DFCs Major John T Godfrey USAAF shot down 18 German aircraft Major Louis J Sebille USAF Korean War F 51 Mustang pilot two DFCs Major Joseph Thompson Jr USAAF Aerial reconnaissance pilot with 90 missions most behind enemy lines Major MJ Hegar USAF Second female recipient during combat search and rescue mission in Afghanistan Major George Welch USAAF one of the few American fighter pilots to get airborne during the attack on Pearl Harbor Captain Alan Ace Cozzalio US Army helicopter pilot 4 3 Oak leaf clusters Captain Kenneth H Dahlberg USAAF business executive and figure in the Watergate scandal recipient of two DFCs Captain Joseph Elsberry Member of the Tuskegee Airmen Destroyed three enemy aircraft over France in a single mission on July 12 1944 and a fourth aircraft on July 20 1944 becoming the first African American fighter pilot to do so Captain Hawthorne C Gray USAAC died during altitude record breaking balloon ascent in 1927 Captain Joseph Kittinger USAF seven DFCs served three tours in Vietnam and holder of the highest free fall parachute jump record for 52 years Captain Ken Kavanaugh USAAF Professional football player Captain Thomas Mantell KYANG died in pursuit of a UFO Captain Francis Gary Powers USAF captured by Soviets when his U 2 spy plane was shot down in 1960 Captain Edward L Toppins member of the famed Red Tails Tuskegee Airmen with 4 confirmed aerial kills 21 Captain John S Walmsley Jr USAF Korean War B 26 pilot Captain Hilliard A Wilbanks USAF Vietnam War O 1 pilot and Medal of Honor recipient Captain Louis Zamperini USAAF POW during World War II Inspiration for the movie Unbroken First Lieutenant John Ehrlichman USAAF B 17 navigator presidential aide and figure in the Watergate scandal First Lieutenant Bob Hoover USAAF POW and record breaking pilot First Lieutenant Raymond L Knight USAAF World War II P 47 pilot First Lieutenant Aleda E Lutz USAAF World War II Army flight nurse First Lieutenant Mary Louise Hawkins USAAF World War II Army evacuation flight nurse First Lieutenant Donald D Pucket USAAF died during Operation Tidal Wave 2nd Lieutenant Dean Cullom Smith USAACR pilot for Admiral Byrd s 1928 to 1930 Antarctic Expedition Chief Master Sergeant Duane D Hackney USAF recipient of four DFCs Technical Sergeant Ben Kuroki USAAF Japanese American veteran of 58 combat missions United States Marine Corps Edit General Earl E Anderson USMC Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps General Keith B McCutcheon USMC General Christian F Schilt USMC director of Marine Corps Aviation Lieutenant General Frank E Petersen USMC first African American Marine Corps general Lieutenant General William G Thrash USMC Major General John P Condon USMC Major General Marion Eugene Carl USMC first Marine Corps ace Recipient of five DFCs Major General Ross Rusty Rowell USMC 1927 Nicaragua carried out the first coordinated dive bombing attacks in aviation history Brigadier General Joe Foss Medal of Honor recipient second highest scoring Marine Corps ace of World War II and Governor of South Dakota Brigadier General Robert E Galer USMC commanded VMF 224 on Guadalcanal Colonel Kenneth L Reusser USMC recipient of two DFCs Had 253 combat missions in World War II Korea and Vietnam Colonel Archie Van Winkle USMC World War II Korean War and Vietnam War veteran Colonel Jefferson J DeBlanc USMC shot down five planes in a single day Colonel John Lucian Smith USMC leader of the Cactus Air Force on Guadalcanal Colonel James E Swett USMC shot down 5 planes on his first combat mission and recipient of eight DFCs Lieutenant Colonel Steven J Sewell USMC 484 Combat Missions and 34 air medals CO VMA 134 El Toro Lieutenant Colonel John F Bolt USMC Only Marine jet fighter ace Only Naval Aviator to achieve ace status in two wars WWII and Korea Major William H May USMC FAA Pioneer recipient of seven DFCs Major Robert Claude Maze USMC Major Stephen W Pless USMC Captain Donald N Aldrich USMC 20 kills Captain Cecil A Alexander Jr USMCR modern architect Recipient of two DFCs during World War II Captain Charles S Whitehouse USMC diplomat CIA officer and recipient of seven DFCs First Lieutenant Robert M Hanson USMC member of the Black Sheep Squadron with 25 kills United States Navy Edit Admiral Stan Arthur USN Vice Chief of Naval Operations and recipient of 11 DFCs Admiral Thomas B Hayward USN Chief of Naval Operations Admiral James L Holloway III USN Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Thomas H Moorer USN Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Huntington Hardisty USN Commander in Chief of United States Pacific Command Vice Admiral Walter E Carter Jr USN president of the United States Naval War College and superintendent of the United States Naval Academy Vice Admiral John T Hayward USN president of the United States Naval War College Vice Admiral Diego E Hernandez USN vice commander of NORAD Vice Admiral Edward H Martin USN POW for over five years Vice Admiral James B Stockdale USN Medal of Honor recipient POW in Vietnam president of the United States Naval War College and vice presidential candidate Rear Admiral Richard E Byrd USN Medal of Honor recipient organized and led first flights over the north and south poles Rear Admiral Jeremiah Denton USN Navy Cross recipient POW in Vietnam for seven and a half years Rear Admiral Wade McClusky USN hero of the Battle of Midway Captain Michael J Estocin USN Medal of Honor recipient missing in action in the Vietnam War Captain Cecil E Harris USN second highest scoring Navy ace with 24 kills Recipient of three DFCs Captain David McCampbell USN Medal of Honor recipient top US Navy ace of World War II Captain Royce Williams USN ace fighter pilot during the Vietnam War awarded two DFCs Commander Everett Alvarez Jr USN POW in Vietnam for eight years and seven months Commander Stephen Coonts USNR Vietnam War veteran lawyer and author Commander Eugene A Valencia Jr USNR 23 aerial victories in World War II awarded five DFCs Lieutenant Commander Ira C Kepford USNR 16 aerial victories in World War II Lieutenant Commander Edward Butch O Hare USN shot down 3 Japanese bombers and damaged two others on a single flight Two DFCs Lieutenant Commander George Otto Noville USNR flew on second non stop trans Atlantic flight with Richard E Byrd Lieutenant Commander Richard Halsey Best USN the first pilot to successfully bomb two Japanese carriers the Akagi and the Hiryu in one day Lieutenant Harold June USN co pilot of first flight over the South Pole Lieutenant Joseph P Kennedy Jr USNR Navy Cross recipient and brother of President John F Kennedy Lieutenant Dieter Dengler USN Navy Cross recipient Ensign Jesse L Brown USNR first African American naval aviator United States Coast Guard Edit Vice Admiral John Currier USCGUnited States Army Edit General of the Army Douglas MacArthur Medal of Honor recipient Chief of Staff of the United States Army 1930 1935 commander of the Southwest Pacific Area 1942 1945 and commander of United Nations forces in Korea 1950 1951 DFC awarded for supervising and observing in person the Sukchon Sunchon airborne operation north of Pyongyang 22 better source needed General Alexander Haig USA NATO Supreme Allied Commander for Europe and Secretary of State General Wayne A Downing USA commander of United States Special Operations Command General John W Foss USA combat veteran of Vietnam and Commander United States Army Training and Doctrine Command General Frederick M Franks Jr USA commander of VII Corps during Operation Desert Storm General John Galvin USA NATO Supreme Allied Commander for Europe General Frederick Kroesen USA combat veteran of World War II Korea and Vietnam and commander of 7th United States Army General Gary E Luck USA commander United States Forces Korea General Edward C Meyer USA Chief of Staff of the United States Army General Dennis J Reimer USA Chief of Staff of the United States Army General Roscoe Robinson Jr USA first African American US Army four star general General Bernard W Rogers USA Chief of Staff of the United States Army and Supreme Allied Commander for NATO General Norman Schwarzkopf USA commander of Operation Desert Storm General Donn A Starry USA commander of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command General Sam S Walker USA son of General Walton Walker and superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute General Walton Walker USA commander of the 8th Army in Korea and recipient of two DFCs General Melvin Zais USA commander of the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam Lieutenant General Edward Almond USA commanded X Corps during the Korean War Lieutenant General Hobart R Gay USA commanded the 1st Cavalry Division in the Korean War Lieutenant General David E Grange USA combat veteran of World War II Korea and Vietnam and commander of the Sixth United States Army Lieutenant General James F Hollingsworth USA combat veteran of World War II and Vietnam Recipient of three DFCs 23 Lieutenant General Thomas Tackaberry USA combat veteran of Korea and Vietnam and commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps Major General Patrick Henry Brady USA Vietnam War helicopter pilot Major General George Patton IV USA Son of General George S Patton Colonel Bruce P Crandall USA Vietnam War helicopter pilot Colonel David Hackworth USA highly decorated Army officer commentator and author Lieutenant Colonel Bo Gritz USA highly decorated Special Forces officer in Vietnam Lieutenant Colonel John Paul Vann USA military advisor in Vietnam Major Lauri Torni USA Veteran of the Finnish Army Waffen SS during World War II and U S Army Special Forces in Vietnam Chief Warrant Officer Richard McCoy Jr USA Vietnam veteran and aircraft hijacker Command Sergeant Major Silas L Copeland USA Sergeant Major of the Army See also EditDistinguished Flying Cross United Kingdom Inter service decorations of the United States militaryReferences Edit Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2018 01 11 Retrieved 2018 01 10 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2012 02 16 Retrieved 2012 02 16 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Production publication PDF static e publishing af mil Archived from the original PDF on 2018 01 27 Retrieved 2018 01 10 Info PDF media defense gov 2017 Executive Order 4601 Archives gov National Archives and Records Administration Retrieved 26 September 2012 a b Department of Defense Manual 1348 33 V3 PDF US Department of Defense 23 November 2010 pp 17 18 50 Archived from the original PDF on March 22 2011 Retrieved 26 September 2012 a b c d e Distinguished Flying Cross The Institute of Heraldry Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the ARMY Archived from the original on 2013 12 24 Retrieved 2013 12 21 First fallen aviator of World War I honored with Distinguished Flying Cross www army mil Retrieved 2023 01 05 Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal Criteria in the Army Air Forces in World War II George McGovern s WWII Diary Iskra Darlene M Women in the United States Armed Forces A Guide to the Issues United States ABC CLIO 2010 Mooney Charles C and Layman Martha E 1944 Organization of Military Aeronautics 1907 1935 Congressional and War Department Action PDF Air Force Historical Study No 25 AFHRA USAF Archived from the original PDF on 2010 12 27 Retrieved 14 Dec 2010 Appendix 5 p 127 Official Website of U S Senator Barbara Boxer Press Releases Boxer Praises Senate Passage of the Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial Act Archived from the original on 2014 11 01 Retrieved 2014 11 01 Senator Boxer President Obama Signs the Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial Act senate gov Archived from the original on 23 November 2015 Retrieved 10 June 2016 Awarded by Act of Congress March 1 1933 Awarded by Act of Congress July 2 1932 Awarded by Act of Congress July 11 1932 Awarded by Act of Congress July 11 1932 Died in a plane crash with Will Rogers Awarded by Act of Congress in 1949 and presented in 1952 a b Awarded by Act of Congress December 18 1928 AIR FORCE HISTORICAL RESEARCH AGENCY TUSKEGEE AIRMEN CHRONOLOGY DANIEL L HAULMAN 24 November 2015 Page 65 http www spiritof45 org TUSKEGEE 20AIRMEN 20CHRONOLOGY pdf Douglas MacArthur Distinguished Flying Cross Awarded for Actions During Korean War Hall of Valor Project Archived from the original on 2020 07 30 Retrieved 26 March 2021 Valor awards for James Francis Hollingsworth militarytimes com Archived from the original on 9 November 2014 Retrieved 10 June 2016 Further reading EditSpink Barry L 4 March 2010 Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal Criteria in the Army Air Forces in World War II in Rough Chronological Sequence PDF Air Force Historical Research Agency Retrieved 21 May 2020 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Distinguished Flying Cross The Distinguished Flying Cross Society Texas Military Veteran Video Oral Histories Digital Collection Veterans Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross Newton Gresham Library Sam Houston State University Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Distinguished Flying Cross United States amp oldid 1158612530, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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