- Air Force Cross (United States)
Infobox Military Award
name=Air Force Cross
caption=
awarded_by=United States Air Force
type=Medal
eligibility=
for="Extraordinary heroism, not justifying the award of a Medal of Honor"
status=Currently awarded
created=1960
first_award=1962
last_award=2006
total=191
posthumous=
recipients=
individual=
higher=Medal of Honor
same=Army - Distinguished Service Cross Navy -Navy Cross Air Force - Air Force Cross
lower=Distinguished Service Medals: Defense, Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard
caption2=RibbonThe 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 theNavy 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 involving one of the following actions:
* In action against an enemy of the United States
* While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force
* 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 partyOriginally 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. In July1960 , the name of the decoration was officially changed to the Air Force Cross. The first award of the Air Force Cross was the posthumously made to Major Rudolph Anderson for extraordinary heroism during theCuban Missile Crisis .Additional awards of the Air Force Cross are annotated by
oak leaf clusters , and the reverse of every Air Force Cross is engraved with the recipient's name.Awards
As of December 2006, there have been 191 awards of the Air Force Cross. One award, the first made, was for actions in the
Cuban Missile Crisis . Two were retroactively awarded for actions inWorld War II . 179 were awarded for heroism in theVietnam War . [There were actually 180 awards during the Vietnam War, but one, to AirmanWilliam H. Pitsenbarger , was later upgraded to the Medal of Honor.] Four were awarded for heroism during the 1975Mayagüez Incident . Two were awarded for the 1991Gulf War . One was awarded for the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu inSomalia . Two were awarded for heroism duringOperation Anaconda inAfghanistan in 2003.Notable recipients
* Major
Rudolph Anderson - First recipient, posthumously awarded for valor during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
*Senior AirmanJason D. Cunningham - Pararescueman killed in action in Afghanistan in 2002.
* Colonel George E. "Bud" Day - Medal of Honor recipient and Vietnam War POW.
* Capt. Charles B. "Chuck" DeBellevue - F-4weapon systems officer ace, credited with six (6) MiG kills, the most of any U.S. aviator during theVietnam War .
* Airman 2nd ClassDuane D. Hackney - Pararescueman decorated for valor in Vietnam.
* Lt. ColonelJames H. Kasler - Vietnam War fighter pilot and POW who received three awards of the Air Force Cross.
* SergeantLarry W. Maysey - Pararescueman posthumously decorated for valor in Vietnam.
* ColonelRobin Olds - World War II and Vietnam War fighter pilot.
* Airman First Class (A1C)William H. Pitsenbarger - Pararescueman and the first enlisted recipient. Award later upgraded toMedal of Honor .
* 1st LieutenantKarl W. Richter - Fighter pilot killed in action in Vietnam.
* Lt. ColonelJames Robinson Risner - Vietnam War fighter pilot and POW who received two awards of the Air Force Cross.
* CaptainR. Stephen Ritchie - only USAF pilot ace of the Vietnam War
* TSgtTimothy A. Wilkinson - Pararescueman at theBattle of Mogadishu (1993) , first enlisted person to earn medal since 1975References
White, Robert M. (POW-WWII) P-51 Mustang pilot WWII Germany, F-80 Shooting Star pilot Korean War, X-15 test pilot (First winged astronaut), F-105 Thud pilot Vietnam. Inducted National Aviation Hall of Fame
External links
* [http://wwa.afpc.randolph.af.mil/awardsnet/Decoration.aspx?Mode=Graphics&Decoration=AFC Air Force Personnel Center information on the Air Force Cross]
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