List of most famous Distinguished Flying Cross recipients since its inception. Photos are included for almost every Distinguished Flying Cross medal winner. Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross in every year are listed here alphabetically, but you can sort this Distinguished Flying Cross list by any column. Here are also notable Bronze Star Medal recipients as well as famous Purple Heart winners.
List features Bernard W. Rogers, Bud Day, and more notable US airmen. Featuring civilian DFC winners, WWII winners, and more, this list has it all.
1
Adrian Cole Air Vice Marshal Adrian Lindley Trevor Cole, CBE, DSO, MC, DFC was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force. Joining the army at the outbreak of World War I, he transferred to the ...more
2
Alan Smith Sir Alan Smith, CBE, DFC*, was a British World War II Royal Air Force Supermarine Spitfire fighter ace and businessman.
3
Clark Gable Clark Gable was an American film actor, often referred to as "The King of Hollywood" or just simply as "The King". Gable began his career as a stage actor and appeared as an ...more
4
Andrew Beauchamp-Proctor Captain Andrew Frederick Weatherby Beauchamp-Proctor, VC, DSO, MC and bar, DFC was a South African recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the ...more
5
Bernard W. Rogers Bernard William Rogers was a United States Army general who served as the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army. Besides the Distinguished Service Cross, his decorations included the Defense ...more
6
Billy Bishop Air Marshal William Avery "Billy" Bishop, VC, CB, DSO & Bar, MC, DFC, ED, LL.D. was a Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with 72 victories, making him the top ...more
7
Brian Lane Squadron Leader Brian "Sandy" Lane DFC, was a British Battle of Britain fighter pilot and author. Born in Pannal, Harrogate, England, Lane grew up in Pinner before entering the RAF in ...more
8
Bud Day George Everett "Bud" Day was a United States Air Force colonel and pilot including five years and seven months as a POW in North Vietnam. Day was a recipient of the Medal of Honor and ...more
9
Buzz Aldrin Buzz Aldrin is an American engineer and former astronaut, and the second person to walk on the Moon. He was the Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing in history. He set ...more
10
Charles Lindbergh Charles Augustus Lindbergh, nicknamed Slim, Lucky Lindy, and The Lone Eagle, was an American aviator, author, inventor, military officer, explorer, and social activist. As a 25-year-old U.S. Air ...more
11
George H. W. Bush George Herbert Walker Bush (June 12, 1924 - November 30, 2018) was an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States from 1989 to 1993. Prior to assuming the ...more
12
Wilbur Wright Wilbur Wright (April 16, 1867 – May 30, 1912) was the older of the two Wright brothers (the other being Orville), two Americans credited with inventing and building the world's first successful ...more
13
Amelia Earhart Amelia Mary Earhart was an American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She received the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross for ...more
14
Gene Roddenberry Eugene Wesley "Gene" Roddenberry was an American television screenwriter, producer, populistic philosopher, satirist, and futurist. He is best remembered for having created the ...more
15
Christopher Quintin Brand Air Vice Marshal Sir Christopher Joseph Quintin Brand KBE, DSO, MC, DFC, was a South African officer of the Royal Air Force.
Chuck Yeager Charles Elwood "Chuck" Yeager is a retired brigadier general in the United States Air Force and record-setting test pilot. In 1947, he became the first pilot confirmed to have traveled ...more
18
Clive Caldwell Group Captain Clive Robertson Caldwell DSO, DFC & Bar was the leading Australian air ace of World War II. He is officially credited with shooting down 28.5 enemy aircraft in over 300 ...more
19
David H. Hackworth Colonel David Haskell Hackworth, also known as "Hack," was a highly decorated United States Army soldier, having received 24 decorations for heroism in combat during the Korean and ...more
20
Douglas Bader Group Captain Sir Douglas Robert Steuart Bader CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, FRAeS, DL was a Royal Air Force fighter ace during WWII. He was credited with 20 aerial victories, four shared ...more
21
Douglas MacArthur Douglas MacArthur was an American five-star general and Field Marshal of the Philippine Army. He was Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the ...more
22
Dan Rowan Daniel Hale "Dan" Rowan was an American comedian. He was featured in the television show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, where he played straight man to Dick Martin.
23
Earl E. Anderson General Earl Edward Anderson, the youngest active duty Marine ever promoted to the rank of General and the second active duty Marine Naval Aviator to be promoted to a 4-star rank, became ...more
24
Forrest S. Petersen Vice Admiral Forrest S. Petersen was a United States Navy aviator and test pilot.
25
Geoffrey Allard Flight Lieutenant Geoffrey "Sammy" Allard DFC, DFM & Bar was a British RAF flying ace of the Second World War. Allard scored 19 victories against enemy aircraft, as well as five ...more
26
George Beurling George Frederick "Buzz" Beurling DSO, DFC, DFM & Bar, RAF & RCAF, was the most successful Canadian fighter pilot of the Second World War. Beurling was recognised as ...more
27
George Patton IV George Smith Patton, IV was a major general in the United States Army and the son of World War II general, George S. Patton, Jr.. He served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
28
George Scratchley Brown George Scratchley Brown was a United States Air Force general who served as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In this capacity, he served as the senior military adviser to the President ...more
29
Harry Broadhurst Air Chief Marshal Sir Harry Broadhurst GCB KBE DSO* DFC* AFC, was a senior Royal Air Force commander and flying ace during the Second World War.
30
Harry Cobby Air Commodore Arthur Henry Cobby, CBE, DSO, DFC & Two Bars, GM was an Australian military aviator. He was the leading fighter ace of the Australian Flying Corps during World War I, with 29 ...more
31
Henry Cave-Browne-Cave Air Vice Marshal Henry Meyrick Cave-Browne-Cave CB, DSO, DFC, RAF was an engineering officer in the Royal Naval Air Service during World War I and senior commander in the Royal Air Force during ...more
32
Henry John Burden Henry John Burden DSO, DFC was a Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with 16 victories. The son of Charles Eldridge and Maggie Burden, and grandson of department store ...more
33
James L. Holloway III James Lemuel Holloway III is a retired United States Navy admiral and naval aviator who was highly decorated for his actions during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. After the ...more
34
James Stewart James Maitland "Jimmy" Stewart was an American film and stage actor, known for his distinctive drawl voice and down-to-earth persona. Over the course of his career, he starred in many ...more
35
James Stockdale James Bond Stockdale was a United States Navy vice admiral and one of the most-highly decorated officers in the history of the U.S. Navy. Stockdale led aerial attacks from the carrier USS ...more
36
Jimmy Doolittle James Harold "Jimmy" Doolittle was an American aviation pioneer. Doolittle served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army Air Forces during the Second World War and was ...more
37
Joe McCarthy Joseph Charles "Big Joe" McCarthy DSO DFC CD RCAF was an American-Canadian Royal Canadian Air Force RAF Bomber Command aviator in World War II. He was born on Long Island and grew up ...more
38
John McCain John Sidney McCain III was an American politician and naval officer who served as a United States Senator from Arizona from 1987 until his passing. He previously served two terms in the United ...more
39
John R. Deane, Jr. John Russell Deane, Jr. was a highly decorated United States Army officer with the rank of General. He served as commander of the United States Army Materiel Command.
40
Johnny Checketts Wing Commander John "Johnny" Milne Checketts, DSO, DFC was a New Zealand World War II Flying ace, who destroyed 14½ enemy aircraft, had three probables and damaged 11. He was ...more
41
Robert Kingston Robert Charles Kingston was an United States Army general who served as the commander of U.S. Central Command.
42
Joseph Kittinger Joseph William Kittinger II is a retired Colonel in the United States Air Force and a USAF Command Pilot. Following his initial operational assignment in fighter aircraft, he participated in ...more
43
Robert Michael White Robert Michael "Bob" White, was an American test pilot, electrical engineer, and a Major general in the United States Air Force. White broke a number of records with the North American ...more
44
Leonard Cheshire Group Captain Geoffrey Leonard Cheshire, Baron Cheshire VC, OM, DSO & Two Bars, DFC was a highly decorated British RAF pilot during the Second World War and later philanthropist. Among the ...more
45
Roland Beamont Wing Commander Roland Prosper "Bee" Beamont CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar was a British fighter pilot and test pilot for the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, and the ...more
46
Lloyd Chadburn Lloyd Vernon "Chad" Chadburn DSO & Bar, DFC was a Canadian World War II fighter pilot.
47
Lloyd Rowland Lloyd Rowland is the Deputy Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. As Deputy Director he assists the Director in formulating policy and managing agency activities in order to ...more
48
Sir Max Aitken, 2nd Baronet Sir John William Maxwell "Max" Aitken, 2nd Baronet, DSO, DFC, formerly 2nd Baron Beaverbrook, was a British Conservative politician and press baron, the son of Max Aitken, 1st Baron
49
Neil Cameron, Baron Cameron of Balhousie Marshal of the Royal Air Force Neil Cameron, Baron Cameron of Balhousie KT, GCB, CBE, DSO, DFC was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force. He fought in World War II as a fighter pilot taking ...more
50
Bob Braham John Randall Daniel "Bob" Braham DSO & Two Bars, DFC & Two Bars, AFC, CD was a Royal Air Force night fighter pilot and fighter ace during the Second World War. Braham was born ...more
