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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

 

 

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.

 

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: SandRat

Your Mom was a wise woman.....and all those skills carry into the scouts.


401 posted on 03/05/2007 1:40:49 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)
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To: MS.BEHAVIN

402 posted on 03/05/2007 1:46:00 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)
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To: El Gran Salseron
BRAT!!!

((((HUGS))))

403 posted on 03/05/2007 1:50:14 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: laurenmarlowe; The Mayor; Kathy in Alaska; Colonel_Flagg; GodBlessUSA; Mrs.Nooseman; GrandEagle; ...
EVERETTE HARP
Monday Speaks

404 posted on 03/05/2007 1:53:58 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: beachn4fun
I didn't see no photos. Which movie is it from?

If you click on where the photos are supposed to be you might be able to open them in another tab/window.

They were from Master and Commander. Those men in the 18th century with their long hair and ponytails. LOL!

405 posted on 03/05/2007 1:54:52 PM PST by Tamar1973 (Note to Hillary, Boxer and Fonda: The peas called, they want their pod back!)
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To: tomkow6
Good afternoon, tom!


406 posted on 03/05/2007 2:03:31 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)
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To: MEG33
Good afternoon, Meg....((HUGS))....still staying cold here, and still with gusty winds. BRRR!! "You" look cute in your "state" outfit.


407 posted on 03/05/2007 2:05:40 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)
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To: LUV W

I'd request rainy days and Mondays ... but it's actually snowing here. Flurries, but still snow.


408 posted on 03/05/2007 2:07:39 PM PST by Tanniker Smith (Math teachers know ALL the angles.)
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To: Tamar1973

oooooooooo....THUD!

409 posted on 03/05/2007 2:15:25 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: AZamericonnie
i HATE mondays, but thanks anyhow!

free dixie,sw

410 posted on 03/05/2007 2:17:16 PM PST by stand watie ("Resistance to tyrants is OBEDIENCE to God." - T. Jefferson, 1804)
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To: AZamericonnie
work is the CURSE of the leisure class.

free dixie,sw

411 posted on 03/05/2007 2:17:44 PM PST by stand watie ("Resistance to tyrants is OBEDIENCE to God." - T. Jefferson, 1804)
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To: StarCMC; SouthernHawk; HiJinx; beachn4fun; mylife; Jet Jaguar; Fawnn; MS.BEHAVIN; Brad's Gramma; ...
Both lose when cow moose collides with helicopter

EUTHANIZED: Darted animal from the Gustavus herd bumps rear rotor of a tagging aircraft.

By KATIE PESZNECKER
Anchorage Daily News
Published: March 5, 2007
Last Modified: March 5, 2007 at 07:16 AM

A routine flight to tag a cow moose took a bizarre turn this weekend when the tranquilized animal charged the tail section of a hovering helicopter, collided with the rear rotor and brought down the aircraft.

The injured animal was euthanized at the scene.

The incident happened near the southeast town of Gustavus late Saturday afternoon, and baffled officials with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

"I have never personally seen or heard of an injury of this type, caused to an animal by an aircraft," said Doug Larsen, regional supervisor for the Division of Wildlife Conservation. "It just had to be one of those quirky circumstance. Even dealing with bears and goats and moose and wolves, this is pretty unusual and truly a very unique situation."

Neither the pilot nor biologist Kevin White, who was aboard the helicopter, was injured. But Larsen said the moose was hurt badly enough -- its snout collided with the chopper's tail rotor -- that it had to be put down by White. Biologists typically use a lethal injection to euthanize moose, Larsen said.

"It was really beyond help at that point," Larsen said. "When it hit its nose, it basically chopped off the end of its nose. It was really severely injured."

The rest of the story

412 posted on 03/05/2007 2:23:33 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)
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To: StarCMC; LUV W; All

Don't worry Star Cheney is okay he just had blood clot they just release from hospital he need some rest and other stuff so he is okay according to AP wire

Actuually just got home and I probably cruise Kydto news wire see if market go down again tonight in overnight cycles


413 posted on 03/05/2007 2:28:17 PM PST by SevenofNine ("We are Freepers, all your media belong to us, resistence is futile")
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Thanks for the ping!


414 posted on 03/05/2007 2:31:09 PM PST by Jet Jaguar (Redeploy to Tehran)
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To: Tanniker Smith

Sounds like you need "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow"! LOL!

Sorry you are having snow...unless you wanted it!


415 posted on 03/05/2007 2:41:07 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: LUV W

BYJ certainly has that effect on women, doesn't he?! LOL!


416 posted on 03/05/2007 2:41:27 PM PST by Tamar1973 (Note to Hillary, Boxer and Fonda: The peas called, they want their pod back!)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

BTTT


417 posted on 03/05/2007 2:41:35 PM PST by E.G.C.
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To: Jet Jaguar

Very strange....d:o)


418 posted on 03/05/2007 2:47:59 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)
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To: LUV W

Huh? I dedicate a song especially for all of you lovely Canteen divas and you call me names?

HUMPH!

That's some gratitude for ya!


419 posted on 03/05/2007 2:48:42 PM PST by El Gran Salseron (The World-Famous, popular DJ and FReeper Canteen Certified, Equal-Opportunity, Male-Chauvinist-Pig!)
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To: LUV W

It's the Monday song....thanks, Luv.


420 posted on 03/05/2007 2:48:53 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)
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