Miguel Nava '17
On February 7, 2024 Captain Miguel Nava, USMC '17 was killed in a helicopter crash. Please consider a donation to his family to honor his service, and the incredible sacrifice of his wife and five-month-old son.

Distinguished Flying Cross

From USNA Virtual Memorial Hall

The Distinguished Flying Cross, created by Congress 80 years ago, is America’s oldest military aviation award.

The Distinguished Flying Cross was designed by Elizabeth Will and Arthur E. Dubois both working at the Army’s Institute of Heraldry. The cross symbolizes sacrifice, and the propeller symbolizes flight. The combination of those symbols makes clear that the DFC is an award for heroism or achievement for individuals involved in aviation. The ribbon reflects the national colors.

The reverse is blank and suitable for engraving the recipient’s name and rank.

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. …

No one knows how many DFC’s were awarded but The Distinguished Flying Cross Society has over 6,200 recipient members with possibly thousands more eligible to join our prestigious and elite Society.

1918 Cuddihy LB.jpg
George Cuddihy
Class of 1918

Lieutenant, US Navy

Alto, Michigan

November 25, 1929 (33 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, Operational loss, Fixed Wing


1918 Page LB.jpg
Arthur Page, Jr.
Class of 1918

Captain, US Marine Corps

New York City, New York

September 1, 1930 (34 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, Operational loss, Air Race, Fixed Wing




1927 Southerland LB.jpg
Leonard Southerland
Class of 1927

Rear Admiral, US Navy

Fort Payne, Alabama

November 15, 1958 (53 years old)

Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Operational loss, Carrier Division (CARDIV) 7, Helicopter

★ He is not currently listed with his classmates in Memorial Hall.

1927 Southerland LB.jpg Leonard Southerland
Class of 1927
Rear Admiral, US Navy
Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Operational loss, Carrier Division (CARDIV) 7, Helicopter

★ He is not currently listed with his classmates in Memorial Hall.


















1933 Droom 1.jpg
Lawrence Droom
Class of 1933

Lieutenant Commander, US Naval Reserve

Kingsport, Tennessee

March 19, 1949 (39 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, Operational loss, Fixed Wing, Non-graduate



1934 Whitaker LB.jpg
Frank Whitaker
Class of 1934

Lieutenant Commander, US Navy

Spokane, Washington

February 2, 1944 (33 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, WWII, Eniwetok, Pacific, Torpedo Squadron (VT) 17, Fixed Wing, USNA 6th Company






1935 Taylor LB.jpg
David Taylor, Jr.
Class of 1935

Lieutenant Commander, US Navy

San Francisco, California

May 16, 1944 (32 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, Operational loss, Fighting Squadron (VF) 7, Fixed Wing, USNA 5th Company



1935 Schrader LB.jpg
Frederick Schrader
Class of 1935

Commander, US Navy

Lawrenceville, Illinois

October 13, 1944 (31 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, WWII, Air Group (CAG) 11, Formosa, Pacific, Fixed Wing, USNA 1st Company








1937 Thompson LB.jpg
Macdonald Thompson
Class of 1937

Lieutenant Commander, US Navy

Prosser, Washington

September 21, 1944 (29 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, Operational loss, Torpedo Squadron (VT) 7, Fixed Wing, USNA 3rd Company









1938 Hammond LB.jpg
Keene Hammond
Class of 1938

Lieutenant Commander, US Navy

Kathwood, South Carolina

January 6, 1945 (29 years old)

Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, WWII, Fighting Squadron (VF) 4, Pacific, Philippines, Fixed Wing, USNA 5th Company




1938 Wood LB.jpg
Ernest Wood, Jr.
Class of 1938

Lieutenant Commander, US Navy

Garden City, New York

June 19, 1944 (28 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, WWII, Air Group (CAG) 23, Marianas Islands, Pacific, Fixed Wing, USNA 1st Company



1938 Holmstrom LB.jpg
Carl Holmstrom
Class of 1938

Lieutenant Commander, US Navy

Arlington, Washington

August 5, 1944 (28 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, WWII, Bombing Squadron (VB) 13, Pacific, Fixed Wing, USNA 10th Company








1938 Kelley LB.jpg
John Kelley
Class of 1938

Lieutenant Commander, US Navy

Bar Harbor, Maine

November 11, 1943 (27 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, WWII, Fighting Squadron (VF) 33, Pacific, Solomon Islands, Fixed Wing, USNA 11th Company




1939 Hamm LB.jpg
Andrew Hamm
Class of 1939

Lieutenant Commander, US Navy

Bowdon, Georgia

July 28, 1945 (27 years old)

Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, WWII, Bombing Squadron (VB) 1, Japan, Pacific, USNA 8th Company


1939 Ostrom LB.jpg
Rexford Ostrom
Class of 1939

Lieutenant Commander, US Navy

Lapeer, Michigan

April 10, 1945 (29 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, WWII, Fighting Squadron (VF) 24, Okinawa, Pacific, Fixed Wing, USNA 2nd Company


1939 Cooke, B LB.jpg
Byron Cooke
Class of 1939

Lieutenant Commander, US Navy

Marshall, Texas

March 26, 1945 (29 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, WWII, Pacific, Torpedo Squadron (VT) 9, Fixed Wing, USNA 2nd Company



1939 Cook LB.jpg
Franklin Cook, Jr.
Class of 1939

Lieutenant Commander, US Navy

Pensacola, Florida

October 12, 1944 (26 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, WWII, Fighting Squadron (VF) 19, Formosa, Pacific, Fixed Wing, USNA 8th Company


1939 Swensson LB.jpg
Richard Swensson
Class of 1939

Lieutenant Commander, US Navy

Junction City, Kansas

April 29, 1944 (27 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, WWII, Pacific, Torpedo Squadron (VT) 24, Fixed Wing, USNA 1st Company






1940 Rockwell LB.jpg
John Rockwell, Jr.
Class of 1940

Commander, US Navy

Wellsville, New York

February 13, 1956 (36 years old)

Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, Operational loss, Fixed Wing, USNA 10th Company


1940 Micheel LB.jpg
John Micheel
Class of 1940

Commander, US Navy

Cavour, South Dakota

January 31, 1953 (36 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, Korea, Attack Squadron (VA) 923, Fixed Wing, USNA 3rd Company



1940 Wood, H LB.jpg
Hugh Wood, Jr.
Class of 1940

Lieutenant Commander, US Navy

Dayton, Ohio

December 19, 1950 (34 years old)

Navy Cross, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Operational loss, Fixed Wing, USNA 1st Company


1940 Sampson LB.jpg
Willard Sampson
Class of 1940

Lieutenant Commander, US Navy

Evanston, Illinois

June 22, 1950 (33 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, Operational loss, Fixed Wing, USNA 5th Company




1940 Graham LB.jpg
Henry Graham, Sr.
Class of 1940

Lieutenant Commander, US Navy

Sea Cliff, Long Island, New York

April 11, 1945 (27 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, WWII, Bombing Fighting Squadron (VBF) 83, Okinawa, Pacific, Fixed Wing, USNA 5th Company






1941 Simonds LB.jpg
Bruce Simonds
Class of 1941

Commander, US Navy

Seattle, Washington

October 16, 1952 (33 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, Korea, Attack Squadron (VA) 702, Fixed Wing, USNA 8th Company




1942 Glessner 1.jpg
Robert Glessner
Class of 1942

1st Lieutenant, US Army

Holley, New York

December 24, 1944 (25 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, WWII, 27th Fighter Squadron, Japan, Fixed Wing, Non-graduate




1943 Pugh LB.jpg
Benjamin Pugh
Class of 1943

Lieutenant Commander, US Navy

Vanceburg, Kentucky

December 17, 1951 (31 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, Korea, Fighter Squadron (VF) 194, Fixed Wing, USNA 4th Company







1945 Reynolds LB.jpg
Robert Reynolds
Class of 1945

Lieutenant (j.g.), US Navy

Cuylerville, New York

April 8, 1950 (28 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, Cold War, Patrol Squadron (VP) 26, Fixed Wing, USNA 19th Company



1947 Merner LB.jpg
Marcus Merner
Class of 1947

Lieutenant (j.g.), US Navy

Palo Alto, California

January 28, 1951 (25 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, Korea, Fighter Squadron (VF) 192, Fixed Wing, USNA 22nd Company














1950 Gedney LB.jpg
Kendall Gedney
Class of 1950

Lieutenant (j.g.), US Navy

Washington, D.C.

March 9, 1953 (25 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, Korea, Fighter Squadron (VF) 51, Fixed Wing, USNA 1st Company




1950 Hudson LB.jpg
James Hudson
Class of 1950

Lieutenant (j.g.), US Navy

Hollywood, California

December 22, 1952 (24 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, Korea, Attack Squadron (VA) 923, Fixed Wing, USNA 13th Company


1950 Taylor LB.jpg
William Taylor
Class of 1950

1st Lieutenant, US Air Force

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

August 10, 1953 (25 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, Operational loss, Fixed Wing, USNA 27th Company

★ He is not currently listed with his classmates in Memorial Hall.

1950 Taylor LB.jpg William Taylor
Class of 1950
1st Lieutenant, US Air Force
Distinguished Flying Cross, Operational loss, Fixed Wing, USNA 27th Company

★ He is not currently listed with his classmates in Memorial Hall.




1950 Evans LB.jpg
Hubert Evans
Class of 1950

Lieutenant (j.g.), US Navy

Jamestown, Ohio

February 16, 1953 (26 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, Korea, Fighter Squadron (VF) 93, Fixed Wing, USNA 25th Company









1952 Ballou LB.jpg
Charles Ballou
Class of 1952

Lieutenant Colonel, US Air Force

Lancaster, Pennsylvania

November 7, 1968 (40 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, Vietnam, 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron, Fixed Wing, USNA 23rd Company



1952 Yamnicky LB.jpg
John Yamnicky, Sr.
Class of 1952

Captain, US Navy

McKeesport, Pennsylvania

September 11, 2001 (71 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, 9/11, Meritorious Service Medal, Retired, Terrorism, USNA 5th Company

★ Though we honor his service and sacrifice on this website, he is not eligible for inclusion in Memorial Hall.

1952 Yamnicky LB.jpg John Yamnicky, Sr.
Class of 1952
Captain, US Navy
Distinguished Flying Cross, 9/11, Meritorious Service Medal, Retired, Terrorism, USNA 5th Company

★ Though we honor his service and sacrifice on this website, he is not eligible for inclusion in Memorial Hall.





1954 Hume LB.jpg
Kenneth Hume
Class of 1954

Lieutenant Commander, US Navy

Cincinnati, Ohio

March 29, 1965 (33 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, MIA, Vietnam, Fighter Squadron (VF) 154, Fixed Wing, USNA 8th Company



1954 Smith LB.jpg
Gary Smith
Class of 1954

Lieutenant Colonel, US Air Force

Klamath Falls, Oregon

March 27, 1970 (38 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, Operational loss, 3246th Test Wing, Fixed Wing, USNA 18th Company

















1959 Hopps 1.jpg
Gary Hopps
Class of 1959

Lieutenant, US Navy

Rochester, New York

February 10, 1966 (29 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, MIA, Vietnam, Attack Squadron (VA) 145, Fixed Wing, Non-graduate







1961 Murphy LB.jpg
Terence Murphy
Class of 1961

Lieutenant (j.g.), US Navy

Flushing, New York

April 9, 1965 (25 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, MIA, Vietnam, Fighter Squadron (VF) 96, Fixed Wing, USNA 18th Company



1961 Connell LB.jpg
James Connell
Class of 1961

Lieutenant Commander, US Navy

Wilmington, Delaware

January 14, 1971 (31 years old)

Navy Cross, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, POW, Vietnam, Attack Squadron (VA) 55, USNA 20th Company






1963 Doughtie LB.jpg
Carl Doughtie
Class of 1963

Lieutenant (j.g.), US Navy

Tarboro, North Carolina

June 10, 1965 (24 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, Vietnam, Attack Squadron (VA) 25, Fixed Wing, USNA 3rd Company




1963 Pinneker LB.jpg
Jerald Pinneker
Class of 1963

Lieutenant (j.g.), US Navy

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

March 20, 1966 (25 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, Vietnam, Attack Squadron (VA) 144, Fixed Wing, USNA 15th Company


1963 Patterson LB.jpg
James Patterson
Class of 1963

Lieutenant Commander, US Navy

South Pasadena, California

May 21, 1967 (26 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, MIA, Vietnam, Attack Squadron (VA) 25, Fixed Wing, USNA 16th Company



1964 Shumway LB.jpg
Geoffrey Shumway
Class of 1964

Lieutenant Commander, US Navy

Skaneateles, New York

June 25, 1972 (29 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, Vietnam, Attack Squadron (VA) 22, Fixed Wing, USNA 12th Company


1966 Pender LB.jpg
Orland Pender, Jr.
Class of 1966

Lieutenant Commander, US Navy

Atlanta, Georgia

August 17, 1972 (27 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, KIA, Vietnam, Fighter Squadron (VF) 114, Fixed Wing, USNA 23rd Company





1969 Kraft LB.jpg
Nile Kraft
Class of 1969

Lieutenant, US Navy

Gilman, Illinois

February 22, 1977 (29 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, Operational loss, Blue Angels, Fixed Wing, USNA 22nd Company



1981 Dewispelaere LB.jpg
Dan Dewispelaere
Class of 1981

Lieutenant Commander, US Navy

Alexandria, Virginia

October 10, 1991 (32 years old)

Distinguished Flying Cross, Operational loss, Attack Squadron (VA) 155, Fixed Wing, USNA 27th Company




Pages in category "Distinguished Flying Cross"

The following 179 pages are in this category, out of 179 total.