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FReeper Canteen ~ Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross ~ March 5, 2007
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Posted on 03/04/2007 6:23:49 PM PST by StarCMC

 

 

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Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

 

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 the DFS 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!*
 

 

 

 



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: afdfc; military; troopssupport
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To: Tamar1973

Well, he does on this one! LOL!

And on you, I think! :D


421 posted on 03/05/2007 2:55:06 PM PST by luvie (The War On Terror--not a clash between civilizations....it is a clash ABOUT civilization--Rush L.)
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To: El Gran Salseron

*sigh*

What am I gonna do with ya!

I turn you over to Bosses 1 & 2...they can deal with you!

Remember the taser! :D


422 posted on 03/05/2007 2:56:25 PM PST by luvie (The War On Terror--not a clash between civilizations....it is a clash ABOUT civilization--Rush L.)
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To: Kathy in Alaska; All

Were coming up on April 18th, the 65th anniversary of the 1942 Doolittle Raid on Tokyo, for which ALL 80 airmen received the DFC.


423 posted on 03/05/2007 3:02:54 PM PST by ken5050 (The 2008 winning ticket: Rudy/Newtie)
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To: LUV W
Well, he does on this one! LOL! And on you, I think! :D

Oh, yeah. Winter Sonata on Amazon.com

You can get your own copy. I got mine some time ago. Love it. LOL! Then again, I used to live in Chuncheon, where it was filmed so I get a heavy dose of "homesick" nostalgia as well. : )

424 posted on 03/05/2007 3:24:20 PM PST by Tamar1973 (Note to Hillary, Boxer and Fonda: The peas called, they want their pod back!)
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To: MS.BEHAVIN

TAPS

RIP SSG Thomas Field


Amazing Grace

425 posted on 03/05/2007 3:26:24 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)
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To: ken5050

Thanks, ken, for the reminder.


426 posted on 03/05/2007 3:27:23 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)
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To: Tamar1973
I like this FLIK too! The Spaniard Gets Revenge on the pompous Emperor.
427 posted on 03/05/2007 3:28:44 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: Tamar1973

Ewwww...


428 posted on 03/05/2007 4:09:12 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: SandRat

I got behind, never caught up (I'm working on it now), and fell asleep. Thanks for posting about the different services and their DFCs.

429 posted on 03/05/2007 4:11:57 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)
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To: mylife; TASMANIANRED
Ewwww...

When you two were discussing roasted tarantulas, I actually did a google search and that is either the first or second link I found. LOL!

430 posted on 03/05/2007 4:17:18 PM PST by Tamar1973 (Note to Hillary, Boxer and Fonda: The peas called, they want their pod back!)
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To: LUV W
So where were all the ladies during this time. Hmmmmm?

Only had one here by then, she was dozing behind me on the couch.

431 posted on 03/05/2007 4:24:28 PM PST by HiJinx (Ask me about Troop Support...)
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult
Thanks to your Dad for his service to our country.


432 posted on 03/05/2007 4:25:16 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)
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To: Mrs.Nooseman

Good "morning", Mrs.N...((HUGS))


433 posted on 03/05/2007 4:26:50 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)
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To: Soaring Feather

So THAT is where my baby carrots went!!


434 posted on 03/05/2007 4:33:46 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

LOL, guilty as charged!


435 posted on 03/05/2007 4:35:37 PM PST by Soaring Feather (I Soar 'cause I can....)
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To: Tamar1973

I actually tasted one of those worm based carrot cakes once.
I tasted fine but I wasnt converted!


436 posted on 03/05/2007 4:51:04 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: mylife
I actually tasted one of those worm based carrot cakes once. I tasted fine but I wasnt converted!

It can't be all bad if it's got more protein than regular carrot cake. ; )

437 posted on 03/05/2007 4:55:13 PM PST by Tamar1973 (Note to Hillary, Boxer and Fonda: The peas called, they want their pod back!)
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To: Arrowhead1952

Good grief...I've been hearing clips of "her" all day....


438 posted on 03/05/2007 5:28:14 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)
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To: ALOHA RONNIE
Have a great day, Ronnie. Thanks to both you and Maj Crandall for your service to our country.


439 posted on 03/05/2007 5:57:30 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)
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To: GodBlessUSA
Head high, Proud Mom...thanks to your son for choosing to serve his country.


440 posted on 03/05/2007 6:00:30 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)
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