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Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

The Distinguished Flying Cross was instituted on July 2nd 1926. The very first one was awarded to Captain Charles A. Lindbergh for his flight in the Spirit of St. Louis, the first Transatlantic solo flight in 1927. The first US Navy pilot to be awarded the DFC was Commander E. Byrd for his flight to the North Pole and back in 1926. Amelia Earhart was the first female pilot to receive the DFC and the first and only civilian pilot to be awarded. By special Act of Congress, the Wright Brothers retroactively received a Distinguished Flying Cross.

The decoration could be awarded for actions after April 6th, 1917.
It could be awarded “to any person, while serving in any capacity with the Air Corps of the Army of the United States, including the National Guard and the Organized Reserves, or with the United States Navy, since April 6th, 1917, has distinguished, or who, after approval of this Act, distinguished himself by heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight. The performance of the act of heroοsme must be evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty. The extraordinary achievement must have resulted in an accomplishment so exceptional and outstanding as to clearly set the individual apart from his comrades or from other persons in similar circumstances. Awards will be made only to recognize single acts of heroism or extraordinary achievement and will not be made in recognition of sustained operational activities against an armed enemy”. During war time the decoration could also be awarded to members of the Armed Forces of friendly foreign forces that served with the United States.

The original design was from Mr. Arthur E. Dubois and Miss Elizabeth Will.
It is composed by a Bronze Cross Patee with on it a four-bladed propeller, with between each two blades of the propeller, five rays between the arms of the cross.
The ribbon is blue with on both sides a white stripe. In the centre one can find a red stripe with two smaller white stripes on each side.

Only one medal was received. When further Distinguished Flying Crosses were awarded, the recipient received either a Bronze Oak-Leave clusters for Army and Air Force and Gold Stars for Navy personnel. For every fifth bronze Oak-Leave cluster or Gold Star, a Silver Oak-Leave cluster or Silver Star was received. Oak-Leave clusters and Stars were to be worn on the ribbon of the first medal. US Navy or US Marines Corps pilots also could receive a “V”-pin for on the ribbon which denotes valour in combat action.

Abbott, Earl Leroy "Abby"* January 8th, 1919
† January 24th, 1945

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Grid List
Baker, Addison Earl* January 1st, 1907
† August 1st, 1943

Bakutis, Frederick Edward* November 4th, 1912
† October 4th, 2009

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Balbo, Italo* June 6th, 1896
† June 28th, 1940

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Ballew, Oscar E.* June 11th, 1923
† May 5th, 1977

Barbour, Will P.* April 4th, 1925
† March 19th, 1945

Barto, Vernon N.* September 30th, 1922
† July 5th, 1971

Bartosh, Walter Richard* October 18th, 1920
† February 4th, 2012

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Bass, Harry Brinkley* July 4th, 1916
† August 20th, 1944

Batten, Hugh Nash* October 17th, 1923
† October 24th, 1990
Plot: 64 Grave: 767

Bauer, Louis Hallowell (USN)* September 22nd, 1911
† April 26th, 2008

Beamont, Roland Prosper 'Bee'* August 10th, 1920
† November 19th, 2001

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Bebas, Gus George* February 24th, 1914
† July 19th, 1942

Benn, William Charles† May 22nd, 2002

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Bergiel, Blaise Julius* August 1st, 1946

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Berkoff, Lawrence* 1923
† September 8th, 1944

Berry, Jack W.† August 4th, 1942

Beser, Jacob* May 15th, 1921
† June 16th, 1992

Best, Richard Halsey* March 24th, 1910
† October 28th, 2001
Plot: 54 Grave: 3192

Billett, Leonard M.* November 18th, 1919
† January 22nd, 1996

Blakeslee, Donald James Matthew "Don"* September 11th, 1917
† September 3rd, 2008
Plot: 8-II Row: 17 Grave: 1

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Blassie, Michael Joseph* April 4th, 1948
† May 11th, 1972

Bond, Charles Rankin, Jr.* April 22nd, 1915
† August 18th, 2009

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Bong, Richard Ira* September 24th, 1920
† August 6th, 1945

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Bonwit, Barry Lee* May 13th, 1926

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Boothman, John Nelson* February 19th, 1901
† December 29th, 1957

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Bottoms, Benjamin Autrell* November 1st, 1913
† November 29th, 1942

Brandecker, Edward William Jr.* July 11th, 1921
† January 2nd, 2020

Brasseur, Jules J. "The Baron"* January 31st, 1919
† 2004

Brereton, Lewis Hyde* June 21st, 1890
† August 1st, 1967
Plot: 6 Grave: 5717-G

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Breslove, Joseph, Jr.* February 16th, 1916

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Brett, George Howard* February 7th, 1886
† December 2nd, 1963

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Brewer, Ronald S.* December 1st, 1921
† February 19th, 2009

Brocato, Samuel J., Jr.* October 15th, 1920
† June 9th, 1960

Brunmier, Carland Edward* May 13th, 1918
† December 9th, 2009

Buie, James L.* 1920
† September 25th, 1988

Bunting, Henry Sharp† January 2004

Burbridge, Bransome Arthur* February 5th, 1921
† November 1st, 2016

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Burger, Robert Bernard* January 18th, 1923
† August 2009

Burke, Louis Edward, Jr.* October 4th, 1916
† September 22nd, 1984

Burrus, John Clinton† December 30th, 2004

Bush, George Herbert Walker* June 12th, 1924
† November 30th, 2018

Bush, William Douglas, Jr.* July 8th, 1924
† March 26th, 1951

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Button, John Chester* April 20th, 1920

Byers, Bruce B.* February 12th, 1921

Byrd, Richard Evelyn* October 25th, 1888
† March 11th, 1957

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Byron, Edward J.† May 1st, 1945
Plot: H Row: 10 Grave: 3

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Sources