FReeper Canteen ~ Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross ~ March 5, 2007

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[StarCMC]

 

 

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The FReeper Canteen
looks at
The Air Force
Distinguished Flying Cross

This medal is awarded to any officer or enlisted man of the Armed Forces of the United States who shall have distinguished himself in actual combat in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The decoration may also be given for an act performed prior to November 11, 1918, when the individual has been recommended for, but has not received the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, or Distinguished Service Medal.

The Distinguished Flying Cross, authorized by an Act of Congress of July 2, 1926 (amended by Executive Order 7786 on January 8, 1938), was awarded first to Captain Charles A. Lindbergh, of the U.S. Army Corps Reserve, for his solo flight of 3600 miles across the Atlantic in 1927, a feat which electrified the world and made "Lindy" one of America's most popular heroes. The first D.F.C. to be awarded to a Navy man was to Commander Richard E. Byrd, of the U.S. Navy Air Corps, on May 9, 1926, for his exciting flight to and from the North Pole. Both these famous aviators also received the Medal of Honor with the Distinguished Flying Cross. The Aviatrix Amelia Earhart also received the Distinguished Flying Cross. Hers was the only such award, as an executive order on March 1, 1927, ruled that D.F.C. should not be conferred on civilians.

During wartime, members of the Armed Forces of friendly foreign nations serving with the United States are eligible for the D.F.C. It is also given to those who display heroism while working as instructors or students at flying schools.

The Distinguished Flying Cross was designed by Elizabeth Will and Arthur E. DuBois. It is a bronze cross pattee, with rays between the arms of the cross. On the obverse is a propeller of four blades, with one blade in each arm of the cross and in the re-entrant angles of the cross are rays which form a square. The cross is suspended by a recatgular-shaped bar and centered on this is a plain shield. The reverse is blank and suitable for engraving the recipients name and rank.

The ribbon has a narrow red center stripe, flanked on either side by a thin white stripe, a wide stripe of dark blue, a narrow white stripe and narrow dark blue at the edge of the ribbon.

Subsequent awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross are indicated by oak-leaf clusters for Army and Air Force personnel and by additional award stars for members of the Naval services.

An example of the gallantry for which the Distinguished Flying Cross is awarded took place on the morning of August 31, 1969 in Vietnam. Captain Francis J. Cuddy, USMC a Helicopter pilot, was assigned the mission of assisting in the extraction of an Army Special Forces reconnaissance team heavily engaged in combat with a large North Vietnamese Army deep in an mountainous area under the enemy's complete control. Captain Cuddy, undaunted by the heavy volume of hostile fire directed at his aircraft, directed other helicopters into the area, moved his aircraft into treetop level and delivered repeated rocket and strafing runs on the enemy positions. As a result of his devastating attacks, the hostile fire was suppressed and sufficiently to enable the transport helicopters to safely extract the reconnaissance team. The citation for his award went on the say ". . .Captain Cuddy's courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of personal danger were instrumental in accomplishing this hazardous mission and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service." Captain Cuddy was also awarded the Silver Star, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, Commendation Medal with Combat "V," the Purple Heart and forty eight Air Medals During his tour of duty in Vietnam.

Link

        

Michael Durant

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Michael J. Durant
1961-
Mike Durant speaking at Tyndall Air Force Base in November 2002
Nickname	Mike
Rank	Chief Warrant Officer 4
Battles/wars	Operation Just Cause Operation Desert Storm Battle of Mogadishu
Awards	Distinguished Flying Cross  (3) Bronze Star Purple Heart

Michael 'Mike' J. Durant (born July 23, 1961) is the American pilot who was held prisoner after a raid in Mogadishu, Somalia on October 3, 1993. Durant is a native of Berlin, New Hampshire, and served in the United States Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Night Stalkers) as a Chief Warrant Officer 3. He retired from the Army as a CW4 Blackhawk helicopter master aviator in the 160th SOAR after participating in combat operations Prime Chance, Just Cause, Desert Storm, and Gothic Serpent. His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star with Valor Device, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, three Air Medals, POW Medal, and numerous others. He and his wife Lisa have six children.

Biography

Durant was the pilot of Super Six Four, the second MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to crash during the Battle of Mogadishu on October 3, 1993. The helicopter was hit by a rocket propelled grenade, and, although the aircraft remained stable at first, a few minutes later it began to malfunction, which led to its crash about a mile southwest of the raid's target.

Durant was badly injured, but survived the crash. Shortly after the crash, two Delta Force soldiers, MSG Gary Gordon and SFC Randy Shughart, arrived and fought off the advancing Somalis but were eventually shot and killed. Both Gordon and Shughart received the Medal of Honor posthumously for this action. The Somalis captured Durant and held him for eleven days before his release.

Durant is retired from the military. He now offers seminars to military personnel about helicopter maneuvering and Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) operations.

Durant also offers talks about the Somalia raid and the experiences he had in captivity. He personally offered an extensive interview to actor Ron Eldard, who portrayed Durant in the movie Black Hawk Down, which chronicles the events of the raid.

In 2003, Durant published a book titled In The Company of Heroes in which he chronicles his military career and his captivity.

Durant was a member of the Bush-Cheney '04 Veterans Team.

Link

        

Field Trip: The Distinguished Flying Cross Society

Click the pic to visit!

 

 

Other Links

List of Awardees

United States Association of D.F.C. honorees

Dinstinguished Flying Cross - Criteria, Background, and Images

Please remember: 

The Canteen exists to support our military heroes serving all over the world and their families.  There are lots of places around Free Republic to talk about politics and debate your views.  Please try to keep it out of the Canteen.  We want to keep the Canteen a place where the guys and gals who are serving can sit down, kick their shoes off and relax and not have to keep their guard up.  Thanks for your help! 
Now go out there and have FUN!!!!   
*HUGS!*  

 

 

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

It was funny...d:o)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening to you, swmo. How is your wrist doing the day after sweeping/mopping?

[MS.BEHAVIN]

*Yawn*
Nite Ma!
*HUG*
I'm off to bed!
Don't stay up too late!
God Bless our Troops!
Ms.B

[swmobuffalo]

My wrist is just fine! No swelling, no tenderness. It's still kinda weak feeling in certain motions but other than that its fine! I'm thinking about wrapping up good tomorrow and dragging some tree debris up to the front of the house. They are FINALLY going to start picking up the mess from the ice storm around here.

We were gonna do some work on it yesterday but it was windy and cold, today is Sunday (or was Sunday!:)) and tomorrow after school we're off to the nursing home to visit my FIL.

[Kathy in Alaska]

My goodness, ms b...is that you going to bed at an almost normal hour?
I'm hoping to try it too. d:o)

Good night and sleep well. Thanks for helping honor our troops.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, acad, for today's daily dose o' da blues.

[jblair]

Star,

Hal Dortch was an F-105 pilot and Wild Weasel driver with 220+ missions North over the course of 3 tours in SEA. His first DFC was earned as a participant in the first successful SAM suppression mission in June/July of '65. He also earned 14 Air Medals and two Purple Hearts.

Jim Alder was gunner on a bomber shot down over Korea. He was held as a POW where he developed a profound dislike for communists. After Korea, Alder decided to continue in the USAF as a pilot, graduating from jet training in '56. Alder possessed an "uncommon touch" with stick and rudder. This talent, combined with brass balls and a profound dislike for communists, made for what Hal Dortch called "the finest combat pilot I'd ever seen". I do not have the details of Alder's DFC commendations, but believe one was a result of his leadership in the destruction of a rail facility near Hanoi.

Dortch was surely biased, as he and Alder flew many missions together. However, Hal Dortch was a top pilot in his own right, having been an instructor at the Fighter Weapons School, a Thunderbird, the Director of Fighter & Recon Operations for TAC, DO 12th Air Force, and Wing Commander of the 49th TFW. He was as familiar with USAF figher pilots as any one person during the 60s and 70s.

There have been a lot of great combat pilots. Jim Alder's name deserves to be mentioned.

[jblair]

Steve Ritchie was my father's best Air Force buddy. I got to see him quite a bit as a kid - he was like Robert Redford from The Great Waldo Pepper. Of course, Gen. Ritchie was different in that he had a southern charm and no hint of marxist sympathies.

My father and I attended a Monday Night Football game with Gen. Ritchie way back in '78 or '79(Steelers 45, Denver 7). We got into an elevator at the stadium, and the guys on the elevator recognized Ritchie, striking up a conversation. These guys were excited - It's not everyday you see the guy who happens to be the last American fighter ace.

The guys on the elevator? Howard, Frank, and Don.

Cue Paul Harvey.

[Just Lori]

The U.S. Air Force has, and will always have, a very special place in my heart.

GO AIR FORCE!

Thank you, Michael Durant, for your service!

Sleep tight tonight folks..... your AIR FORCE is AWAKE!

Thanks to all of them....

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Pusterfuss]

Good morning Kathy.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, Pusterfuss...((HUGS))...how's global warming doing? Beautiful, bright, weekend here. And I am losing the fight with the zzzz monster. Have a good Monday.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Same here. I thank your father for his service.

My dad was awarded his DFC in Vietnam, 1969. He was a flight engineer on C-123s, C-130s, and C-141s. Not sure if he was in a 123 or 130 that mission. He was lighting a cigar and dropped his lighter. He bent down to pick it up and heard a loud bang. Where his instrument panel was and his head would have been had he not dropped his lighter was now a large hole on the aircraft caused by ground fire. The wiring took severe damage and the lading gear wouldn't extend. He ran some jumpers, the landing gear worked and the aircraft was able to land safely. He said he was just doing his job.

[Kathy in Alaska]

I messed up #28...

[Kathy in Alaska]

wh!!

Luv.....#50 and #150!!
Sand.....#100!!
swmo.....#200!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

God bless and keep safe our troops worldwide.

Good night.

Statler Brothers ~ How Great Thou Art

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, Kathy. How's it going?

A very pleasant good morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your contuined service to our country.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, Star. How's it going?

[tomkow6]

 

 

 

 

 

Good morning, Star!!!!!!

Good morning, Canteen Crew !

Good morning, EVERYBODY!

 

GOOD

MORNING

TROOPS!