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 a military decoration which is issued in the following countries: The Air Force Cross of the United Kingdom The Air Force Cross of the United States This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same... Air Force Cross File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... “The U.S. Air Force” redirects here. ... The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. ... The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is the second highest military decoration of the United States Army, awarded for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. ... The Navy Cross is the second highest medal that can be awarded by the Department of the Navy and the second highest award given for valor. ... The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is a United States military award which is presented for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to national security or defense of the United States. ... This article concerns the United States Army Distinguished Service Medal. ... The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. ... The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. ... The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal is a decoration of the United States Coast Guard which was created in August 1949 by order of the United States Congress. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Awards and decorations of the United States military are military decorations which recognize a service members service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed forces. ... “The U.S. Air Force” redirects here. ... The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is the second highest military decoration of the United States Army, awarded for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. ... The Navy Cross is the second highest medal that can be awarded by the Department of the Navy and the second highest award given for valor. ...

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: The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. ...

• 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 party

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. In July 1960, 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 the Cuban Missile Crisis. Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Major Rudolf Anderson, Jr. ... President Kennedy in a crowded Cabinet Room during the Cuban 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. Bronze and Silver oak leaf clusters An Oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on military awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. ...

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 in World War II. 179 were awarded for heroism in the Vietnam War.^[1] Four were awarded for heroism during the 1975 Mayagüez Incident. Two were awarded for the 1991 Gulf War. One was awarded for the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia. Two were awarded for heroism during Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan in 2003. President Kennedy in a crowded Cabinet Room during the Cuban Missile Crisis. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... Combatants United States of America Democratic Kampuchea Commanders Lt. ... For other uses, see Iraq war (disambiguation). ... Combatants USSOF, UNOSOM II Somali National Alliance-affiliated militias Commanders William F. Garrison Mohamed Farrah Aidid Strength 160 2,000-4,000 Casualties U.S. 19 killed 73 wounded 1 captured Malaysia 1 killed 7 wounded Pakistan 2 wounded Militia and civilians At least 500[1] killed (U.S. est. ... Combatants  United States,  Canada,  United Kingdom,  New Zealand,  Australia,  Denmark,  France,  Norway,  Germany Taliban insurgents, al-Qaeda Commanders Buster Hagenbeck Unknown Strength 2,000 500-1,500 Casualties 8 U.S. servicemen dead, 82 wounded 500-800 [1] In early March 2002 the United States military, along with allied Afghan...

Notable recipients

• Major Rudolph Anderson - First recipient, posthumously awarded for valor during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
• Senior Airman Jason D. Cunningham - Pararescueman killed in action in Afghanistan in 2002.
• Technical Sergeant John D. Chapman - Combat controller killed in action in Afghanistan in 2002.
• Colonel George E. "Bud" Day - Medal of Honor recipient and Vietnam War POW.
• Major Gerald Gustafson - Recipient during the Vietnam War
• 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.
• Colonel John A. Dramesi - Vietnam War fighter pilot and POW who received two awards of the Air Force Cross.
• Chief Master Sergeant Richard Loy Etchberger - killed in ground operations saving the lives of several other airmen during the Battle of Lima Site 85.
• Airman 2nd Class Duane D. Hackney - Pararescueman decorated for valor in Vietnam.
• Lt. Colonel James H. Kasler - Vietnam War fighter pilot and POW who received three awards of the Air Force Cross.
• Captain Leland T. Kennedy - Search and rescue helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War twice decorated with the Air Force Cross.
• Sergeant Larry W. Maysey - Pararescueman posthumously decorated for valor in Vietnam.
• Colonel Robin Olds - World War II and Vietnam War fighter pilot.
• Colonel Ralph S. Parr - Fighter pilot in Vietnam who had previously earned the Distinguished Service Cross in the Korean War.
• Airman First Class (A1C) William H. Pitsenbarger - Pararescueman and the first enlisted recipient. Award later upgraded to Medal of Honor.
• 1st Lieutenant Karl W. Richter - Fighter pilot killed in action in Vietnam.
• Lt. Colonel James Robinson Risner - Vietnam War fighter pilot and POW who received two awards of the Air Force Cross.
• Captain R. Stephen Ritchie - only USAF pilot ace of the Vietnam War
• Technical Sergeant Timothy A. Wilkinson - Pararescueman, for heroism in the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993.

Major Rudolf Anderson, Jr. ... Senior Airman Jason D. Cunningham was a United States Air Force pararescueman who was killed in action on March 4, 2002 while taking part in Operation Anaconda during the US war in Afghanistan. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... George E. Bud Day, born February 24, 1925, was a U.S. Air Force pilot during the Vietnam War and recipient of the Medal of Honor. ... Gerald Gustafson was born in St. ... Colonel Charles Barbin “Chuck” DeBellevue (born August 15, 1945) is a former officer in the United States Air Force. ... “F-4” redirects here. ... The weapon systems officer or weapon systems operator (WSO, pronounced wizzo) is a flight officer aboard military aircraft (generally fighters or bombers), who is primarily responsible for the operation of the weapon systems in the aircraft. ... The Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen, perhaps the most famous ace of all. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... Combatants United States Thailand Hmong guerillas North Vietnam Pathet Lao Commanders Vang Pao Vo Nguyen Giap Strength 1,300+ 3,000+ Casualties 8 Americans dead 42 Thai and Hmong Unknown The Battle of Lima Site 85 was a battle of the Vietnam War. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Sergeant Larry W. Maysey was a United States Air Force Pararescueman who was awarded the Air Force Cross medal. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Robin Olds (July 14, 1922 – June 14, 2007) was an American fighter pilot and general officer in the U.S. Air Force. ... The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is the second highest military decoration of the United States Army, awarded for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. ... Combatants United Nations:  Republic of Korea,  Australia,  Belgium,  Luxembourg,  Canada,  Colombia,  Ethiopia,  France,  Greece,  Luxembourg,  Netherlands,  New Zealand,  Philippines,  South Africa,  Thailand,  Turkey,  United Kingdom,  United States Medical staff:  Denmark,  Australia,  Italy,  Norway,  Sweden Communist states:  Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,  Peoples Republic of China,  Soviet Union Commanders... A1C William H. Pitsenbarger was a United States Air Force Pararescueman who gave his life aiding and defending a unit of Soldiers pinned by an enemy assault in Vietnam. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Karl Wendell Richter (October 4, 1942 - July 28, 1967) was an officer in the United States Air Force and an accomplished fighter pilot during the Vietnam War. ... James Robinson Risner James Robinson Robbie Risner (b. ... Brigadier General Richard Stephen Steve Ritchie (born June 25, 1942 in Reidsville, North Carolina) was an officer in the United States Air Force and the Colorado Air National Guard, and a general officer in the Air Force Reserve. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Combatants USSOF, UNOSOM II Somali National Alliance-affiliated militias Commanders William F. Garrison Mohamed Farrah Aidid Strength 160 2,000-4,000 Casualties U.S. 19 killed 73 wounded 1 captured Malaysia 1 killed 7 wounded Pakistan 2 wounded Militia and civilians At least 500[1] killed (U.S. est. ...

References

A1C William H. Pitsenbarger was a United States Air Force Pararescueman who gave his life aiding and defending a unit of Soldiers pinned by an enemy assault in Vietnam. ...

External links

• Air Force Personnel Center information on the Air Force Cross