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| Air Force Cross | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Awarded by United States Air Force | |
| Type | Medal |
| Eligibility | Persons serving in the Air Force |
| Awarded for | "Extraordinary heroism not justifying the award of a Medal of Honor while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party."[1] |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Statistics | |
| First awarded | January 8, 1964[2] |
| Last awarded | April 5, 2008[3] |
| Total awarded | 192 |
| Posthumous awards |
50 |
| Distinct recipients |
187 |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Medal of Honor |
| Equivalent | Army - Distinguished Service Cross Navy - Navy Cross Air Force - Air Force Cross |
| Next (lower) | Distinguished Service Medals: Defense, Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard |
 Ribbon |
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The Air Force Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Air Force. The Air Force Cross is the Air Force decoration equivalent to the Distinguished Service Cross (Army) and the Navy Cross (Navy and Marine Corps).
The Air Force Cross is awarded for extraordinary heroism not justifying the award of the Medal of Honor. It may be awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S Air Force, distinguishes him or herself by extraordinary heroism in combat.
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Origins
Originally entitled the "Distinguished Service Cross (Air Force)", the Air Force Cross was first proposed in 1947 after the creation of the United States Air Force as a separate armed service. Designed by Eleanor Cox, an employee of the Air Force and was sculpted by Thomas Hudson Jones of the Institute of Heraldry. The Air Force Cross was established by Congress in Public Law 88-593 on July 6, 1960, amending Section 8742 of Title 10, U.S. Code to change the designation of "Distinguished Service Cross" to "Air Force Cross" in case of awards made under Air Force Authority.[1]
Additional awards of the Air Force Cross are annotated by oak leaf clusters,[4] and the reverse of every Air Force Cross is engraved with the recipient's name.
Criteria for award
Section 8742. Air Force Cross: Award
"The President may award an Air Force Cross of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the Air Force, distinguishes himself by extraordinary heroism not justifying the award of a Medal of Honor:
- while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;
- while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or
- while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party."[5]
Description
The Air Force Cross consists of a bronze cross with an oxidized satin finish. Centered on the obverse of the cross is a gold-plated American bald eagle, wings displayed against a cloud formation, (as used on the seal of the Air Force). This design is encircled by a laurel wreath in green enamel, edged in gold. The reverse of the cross is blank and suitable for engraving.[1]
The ribbon has a very wide center stripe of Brittany blue with narrow stripes of white and red at the edges. The ribbon is almost identical to that of the Distinguished Service Cross, except for the lighter blue center stripe, indicating the close connection of these awards.[1]
Awards
The first award of that Air Force Cross was made posthumously to Major Rudolf Anderson for extraordinary heroism during the Cuban Missile Crisis.[1]
As of April 2008, there have been 192 awards of the Air Force Cross to 187 individuals. One award, the first made, was for actions in the Cuban Missile Crisis. Two were retroactively awarded for actions in World War II. 180 were awarded for heroism in the Vietnam War,[6] and four for heroism during the 1975 Mayagüez Incident immediately following. Two were awarded for the 1991 Gulf War, one for the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia, and two were awarded for heroism during Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan in 2003. One was awarded to combat controller Zachary J. Rhyner for actions in the Shok Valley, Afghanistan on April 6, 2008.[7]
50 awards have been posthumous, including 30 to members missing in action. 23 have been awarded to enlisted personnel, including 11 pararescue jumpers. 17 graduates of the United States Air Force Academy have been presented the award, and 13 were awarded for conduct while a prisoner of war.
There have been four multiple recipients:
- James H. Kasler (three),
- Robinson Risner (two),
- Leland T. Kennedy (two), and
- John A. Dramesi (two).
Notable recipients
- Maj. Rudolf Anderson, Jr. - First recipient, posthumously awarded for valor during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
- Senior Airman Jason D. Cunningham - Pararescueman killed in action in Afghanistan in 2002.
- Col. George E. "Bud" Day - Medal of Honor recipient and Vietnam War POW.
- Capt. Charles B. "Chuck" DeBellevue - F-4 weapon systems officer ace, credited with six (6) MiG kills, the most of any U.S. aviator during the Vietnam War.
- Airman 2nd Class Duane D. Hackney - Pararescueman decorated for valor in Vietnam.
- Lt. Col. James H. Kasler - Vietnam War fighter pilot and POW; recipient of three awards.
- Capt. Leland T. Kennedy - Vietnam War rescue helicopter pilot; recipient of two awards.
- Brig Gen Robin Olds - World War II and Vietnam War fighter pilot.
- Airman First Class William H. Pitsenbarger - Pararescueman and the first enlisted recipient. Award later upgraded to Medal of Honor.
- 1st Lt. Karl W. Richter - Fighter pilot killed in action in Vietnam.
- Lt. Col. James Robinson Risner - Vietnam War fighter pilot and POW and first living recipient; received two awards.
- Brig Gen R. Stephen Ritchie - only USAF pilot ace of the Vietnam War.
- Col. Robert M. White - X-15 test pilot and F-105 commander.
- TSgt. Timothy A. Wilkinson - Pararescueman at the Battle of Mogadishu (1993), first enlisted person to earn medal since 1975
- SSgt. Joshua J. Uptain - Air Assault awarded for valor during operations in Korea.
References
- ^ a b c d e "Air Force Cross". Air Force Link (USAF). http://www.af.mil/history/spotlight.asp?id=123065916. Retrieved 9 Feb 2009.
- ^ "Major Rudolf Anderson, Jr.". Air Force Link (USAF). http://www.af.mil/history/spotlight_print.asp?storyID=123009509. Retrieved 9 Feb 2009.
- ^ "Air Force Cross awarded 40 years late". Air Force Times. http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/03/airforce_vietnam_cross_032908w/. Retrieved 9 Feb 2009.
- ^ "Title 10, Sub-Title D Air Force, Part II Personnel, Chapter 857 Awards and Decorations, §8744". Cornell University Law School. http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode10/usc_sec_10_00008744----000-.html. Retrieved 9 Feb 2009.
- ^ "Title 10, Sub-Title D Air Force, Part II Personnel, Chapter 857 Awards and Decorations, §8742". Cornell University Law School. http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode10/usc_sec_10_00008742----000-.html. Retrieved 8 Feb 2009.
- ^ There were actually 181 awards during the Vietnam War, but one, to Airman William H. Pitsenbarger, was later upgraded to the Medal of Honor.
- ^ Ramsey, John, "Airman Gets Medal For Valor", Fayetteville Observer, March 11, 2009, p. 1.
External links
- Air Force Link (USAF) information on the Air Force Cross
- Alphabetical recipients list, Home of the Heroes
- Listing of Vietnam War Air Force Cross recipients
- Air Force Cross Awarded 40 Years Late, Air Force Times, March 31, 2008
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