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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 heroïsme 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
Maas, John B., Jr.* May 19th, 1920

MacArthur, Douglas "Gaijin Shogun"* January 26th, 1880
† April 5th, 1964

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MacDonald, Douglas† July 1943

Macefield, James* March 28th, 1920

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Mackie, Evan Dall "Rosie"* October 31st, 1917
† April 28th, 1986

Mah Bon Quen, Albert* November 20th, 1921
† May 6th, 2005

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Maliszewski, Edward P.* October 13th, 1919
† June 1st, 2004

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Maroney, Henry Ralph* July 4th, 1916
† April 28th, 2007

Masoner, William John, Jr.* September 5th, 1917

Mathis, William Henry* May 2nd, 1922

Mazza, Harold Ralph* November 15th, 1912
† June 24th, 1956

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McCain, John Sidney III* August 29th, 1936
† August 25th, 2018
Plot: 8 Grave: 1704

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McCampbell, David S. (USN)* January 16th, 1910
† June 30th, 1996

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McClusky, Clarence Wade, Jr. "Mac"* June 1st, 1902
† June 27th, 1976

McCurdy, John† November 9th, 1984

McCutcheon, Keith Barr* August 10th, 1915
† July 13th, 1971
Plot: 5 

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McGory, Thomas J. "Tommy"* April 23rd, 1915
† June 26th, 2007

McGuire, Edward T. "Ed"† August 2nd, 1943

McGuire, Thomas Buchanan, Jr. "Tommy"* August 1st, 1920
† January 7th, 1945

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McLaughlin, Lachlan Douglas "Doug"* 1921
† May 5th, 1996

McNatt, Kenneth† September 4th, 2012

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McNevin, John W. "Jack"* August 23rd, 1923
† January 20th, 2016

Means, Benjamin Z.* February 11th, 1924
† September 21st, 2014

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Meharg, John R.* November 8th, 1919
† October 30th, 2010

Mehre, Helge* February 1st, 1911
† September 17th, 1997

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Meidinger, John Carold* July 3rd, 1921
† March 18th, 1945

Merrick, Addison Hoyt* August 2nd, 1923
† July 21st, 2015

Meyer, John Charles (USAF)* April 3rd, 1919
† December 2nd, 1975
Plot: 30 Grave: 323-B-LH

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Michael, Edward Stanley* May 2nd, 1918
† May 10th, 1994

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Michaelis, Frederick Hayes* March 4th, 1917
† August 13th, 1992
Plot: 1 Grave: 797

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Michaud, Raymond L.* December 18th, 1916
† January 2001

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Midstokke, Kenneth Edward* May 3rd, 1923
† February 13th, 1977

Milani, Joseph Reno† August 2007

Mims, Hayden P.† November 2nd, 2011

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Mirsch, George Ernest "Bob"* September 23rd, 1920
† September 9th, 1999

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Mitchell, Ralph Johnson* September 25th, 1891
† May 31st, 1970

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Mooney, Robert Carleton* October 14th, 1919
† August 1st, 1943

Morris, Edward James* April 16th, 1915
† January 18th, 1999

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Moura, Nero* January 30th, 1910
† December 17th, 1994

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Mulvey, John Ralph (Jr.)* March 8th, 1920
† March 9th, 1990

Myers, Jennings L.† December 22nd, 1943

Sources