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Distinguished Flying Cross
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This medal is awarded to any officer or enlisted man of the Armed
Forces of the United States who shall have distinguished himself in actual
combat in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement
while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11,
1918." The decoration may also be given for an act performed prior to
November 11, 1918, when the individual has been recommended for, but has not
received the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, or
Distinguished Service Medal. The Distinguished Flying Cross, authorized by an Act of
Congress of July 2, 1926 (amended by Executive Order 7786 on January 8,
1938), was awarded first to Captain Charles A. Lindbergh, of the U.S. Army
Corps Reserve, for his solo flight of 3600 miles across the Atlantic in 1927,
a feat which electrified the world and made "Lindy" one of
America's most popular heroes. The first D.F.C. to be awarded to a Navy man
was to Commander Richard E. Byrd, of the U.S. Navy Air Corps, on May 9, 1926,
for his exciting flight to and from the North Pole. Both these famous
aviators also received the Medal of Honor with the Distinguished Flying
Cross. The Aviatrix Amelia Earhart also received the Distinguished Flying
Cross. Hers was the only such award, as an executive order on March 1, 1927,
ruled that D.F.C. should not be conferred on civilians. During wartime, members of the Armed Forces of friendly
foreign nations serving with the United States are eligible for the D.F.C. It
is also given to those who display heroism while working as instructors or
students at flying schools. The Distinguished Flying Cross was designed by Elizabeth Will
and Arthur E. DuBois. It is a bronze cross pattee, with rays between the arms
of the cross. On the obverse is a propeller of four blades, with one blade in
each arm of the cross and in the re-entrant angles of the cross are rays
which form a square. The cross is suspended by a recatgular-shaped bar and
centered on this is a plain shield. The reverse is blank and suitable for
engraving the recipients name and rank. The ribbon has a narrow red center stripe, flanked on either
side by a thin white stripe, a wide stripe of dark blue, a narrow white
stripe and narrow dark blue at the edge of the ribbon. Subsequent awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross are
indicated by oak-leaf clusters for Army and Air Force personnel and by
additional award stars for members of the Naval services. An example of the gallantry for which the
Distinguished Flying Cross is awarded took place on the morning of August 31,
1969 in Vietnam. Captain Francis J. Cuddy, USMC a Helicopter pilot, was
assigned the mission of assisting in the extraction of an Army Special Forces
reconnaissance team heavily engaged in combat with a large North Vietnamese
Army deep in an mountainous area under the enemy's complete control. Captain
Cuddy, undaunted by the heavy volume of hostile fire directed at his
aircraft, directed other helicopters into the area, moved his aircraft into
treetop level and delivered repeated rocket and strafing runs on the enemy
positions. As a result of his devastating attacks, the hostile fire was
suppressed and sufficiently to enable the transport helicopters to safely
extract the reconnaissance team. The citation for his award went on the say
". . .Captain Cuddy's courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering
devotion to duty in the face of personal danger were instrumental in
accomplishing this hazardous mission and were in keeping with the highest
traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service."
Captain Cuddy was also awarded the Silver Star, three Distinguished Flying
Crosses, Commendation Medal with Combat "V," the Purple Heart and
forty eight Air Medals During his tour of duty in Vietnam. Authorized Device:
Oak leaf Cluster |
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