АҚШ Әскери авиациясының «Еңбегі үшін» орденінің тарихы

Military award of the US Armed Forces

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. 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.

The only Distinguished Flying Cross for World War I service was posthumously awarded on June 14, 2017, when 95th Aero Squadron Commander and Army Captain James Ely Miller was recognized for his actions on March 9, 1918, which made him the first American aviator serving with an American unit to die in that war.

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. 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. On December 28, 1944, Aleda Lutz became the first military woman to receive the DFC, which she received posthumously.

The Distinguished Flying Cross was authorized by Section 12 of the United States Army Air Corps Act enacted by Congress on July 2, 1926, as amended by Executive Order 7786 on January 8, 1938 The act was signed into law by President Barack Obama on July 25, 2014.

This is not a complete list, as it does not include individuals who are known only for receiving the DFC. Note: the rank indicated is the highest ever held by the person.

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. Brigadier General 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 three 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. Commander Joe F. Edwards Jr., USN: He was decorated before becoming an astronaut with the STS 89 mission, following his successful carrier landing of his F 14B after the radome had been separated mid flight, injuring him and having to perform the landing with a blinded eye. 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.

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.

Neil Armstrong: Commander of Apollo 11, first person to walk on the moon. Armstrong was a civilian throughout his tenure at NASA. Glenn Curtiss: aircraft designer. Posthumously awarded in 1933. Amelia Earhart: legendary aviator. First woman to receive the DFC by an Act of Congress in 1932. 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. Wiley Post: completed record breaking around the world flight and was the first person to fly solo around the world. Awarded in 1932. Roscoe Turner: flamboyant air racing champion. Presented in 1952. (Last award of the DFC to a civilian.) Orville Wright: aviation pioneer. Awarded by Act of Congress on December 18, 1928. Wilbur Wright: aviation pioneer. Posthumously awarded by Act of Congress on December 18, 1928. 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.

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. 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. 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 Törni, 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.