Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
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| Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) | |
|---|---|
.jpg) US Army Institute of Heraldry · Public domain · source | |
| Name | Distinguished Flying Cross |
| Caption | Distinguished Flying Cross medal |
| Presenter | Department of Defense |
| Type | military decoration |
| Eligibility | United States military personnel |
| Awarded for | heroism or extraordinary achievement during aerial flight |
| Established | July 2, 1926 |
| Status | Active |
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) is a military decoration awarded for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight, instituted by United States Congress in 1926 during the administration of Calvin Coolidge. It has been conferred on members of the United States Army Air Forces, United States Air Force, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Coast Guard, and allied personnel who served with U.S. forces in conflicts such as World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The decoration often accompanies other awards like the Silver Star, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Medal of Honor in recognition of aerial valor linked to campaigns including the Normandy landings, the Battle of Midway, and Operation Desert Storm.
History
The decoration was authorized by statute passed by the United States Congress on July 2, 1926, following recommendations from leaders in the United States Army Air Service and figures such as Billy Mitchell and Hugh Trenchard who influenced early aviation doctrine; early recipients included aviators from interwar operations and air races like the Mitchell bombing tests. During World War II, the award was issued extensively to aviators in the Eighth Air Force, Pacific Fleet, and units involved in the China Burma India Theater, while postwar reorganizations under the National Security Act of 1947 moved aviation responsibilities to the newly formed United States Air Force. Cold War-era actions over Korea and Vietnam expanded criteria influenced by leaders such as Curtis LeMay and operational commands like Tactical Air Command, and later conflicts including Operation Urgent Fury and Operation Allied Force saw the decoration applied in joint-service contexts coordinated by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Eligibility and Criteria
Eligibility spans members of the United States Armed Forces and, in certain cases, members of allied forces serving with U.S. units; criteria require acts of heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as defined by regulations from the Department of Defense and service secretaries. The Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force directives specify thresholds distinguishing the decoration from the Air Medal and the Silver Star, with guidance from the Code of Federal Regulations and practice in theaters like Europe and the Pacific Theater of World War II. Composite operations involving units such as Carrier Air Wing Seven, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, and the 49th Fighter Squadron have produced case law and precedent through boards and reviews convened by service secretaries and the Secretary of Defense.
Design and Insignia
The medal features a four-armed cross flanked by propellers and laurel leaves, struck in bronze and gilt, suspended from a ribbon patterned in alternating stripes; its design stems from artistic competition influenced by sculptors and engravers who supplied designs to the United States Mint and the Army Institute of Heraldry. Devices authorized for subsequent awards include the bronze and silver oak leaf clusters under United States Army and United States Air Force regulations and gold and silver stars under United States Navy and United States Marine Corps regulations, with specific wear rules promulgated by the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Presentation protocols mirror those for decorations like the Purple Heart and Distinguished Service Cross and often occur at ceremonies presided over by commanders from formations such as Air Combat Command, Fleet Forces Command, or the Marine Corps Combat Development Command.
Notable Recipients and Units
Recipients include pioneering aviators such as Charles Lindbergh, Eddie Rickenbacker, and Jimmy Doolittle for interwar and World War II actions, as well as modern figures like Robin Olds, Gabriel Gonzales, and test pilots affiliated with Air Force Test Pilot School and Naval Test Pilot School. Units and formations with multiple awardees include the 357th Fighter Group, VF-17 "Jolly Rogers", VMFA-115, 82nd Airborne Division aviation elements, and carrier air groups aboard USS Hornet and USS Enterprise. International recipients attached to U.S. commands include personnel from Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, and NATO partner squadrons engaged during Korean War and Bosnia operations.
Awarding Process and Devices
Nominations originate at unit command levels—squadrons, wings, carrier air wings—and proceed through headquarters staff channels to service awards boards and the service secretary or Secretary of the Navy for approval; exceptional cases escalate to the Secretary of Defense or require Congressional notification when involving retroactive or posthumous actions. Subsequent awards are denoted by oak leaf clusters for United States Army and United States Air Force recipients and by 5/16 inch stars for United States Navy and United States Marine Corps recipients, while valor awards are further annotated with the "V" device as authorized by the Department of Defense. Administrative issuance, medals struck by the United States Mint, and replacement procedures are governed by supply and personnel systems such as the Defense Finance and Accounting Service and service publications like the Air Force Instruction series and Navy Personnel Command directives.