Air Force Cross (United States)
The medal was designed by Eleanor Cox, an employee of the Air Force, and was sculpted by Thomas Hudson Jones of the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry.Centered on the cross is a gold-plated American bald eagle, wings displayed against a cloud formation (from the crest of the Department of the Air Force Seal)[1][15] encircled by a laurel wreath finished in green enamel.The ribbon is almost identical to that of the Army's Distinguished Service Cross, except for the lighter blue center stripe, indicating the close connection of these awards.[18] Two were awarded for the 1991 Gulf War; one, to USAF Pararescueman Timothy Wilkinson, for the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia, and three were awarded for heroism during Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan in 2002, two to USAF Pararescuemen Keary Miller and Jason Cunningham and one to special tactics Technical Sergeant John Chapman, a combat controller.[20] On October 17, 2017, the Air Force Cross was awarded to Staff Sergeant Richard Hunter, for actions against the Taliban in Kunduz province Afghanistan on November 2, 2016.
United States Department of the Air ForceService ribbonMedal of HonorDistinguished Service CrossNavy CrossCoast Guard CrossDefense Distinguished Service MedalHomeland Security Distinguished Service MedalUnited States Air ForceUnited States Space Forcemilitary decorationU.S. Army Institute of Heraldryoak leaf clustersSecretary of the Air ForcePentagonDepartment of the Air Force SealRudolf AndersonCuban Missile CrisisWorld War IIVietnam WarMayagüez IncidentGulf WarBattle of MogadishuOperation AnacondaZachary RhynerBattle of Khashammissing in actionPararescuemenUnited States Air Force Academyprisoner of warJames H. KaslerJohn A. DramesiLeland T. KennedyRobinson RisnerGarry Gordon CooperMichael B. DonleyCharles G. BoydVietnam-era POWCharlie L. BrownUnited States Army Air ForcesJohn A. ChapmanBattle of Takur GharWar in AfghanistanGeorge E. "Bud" DayCharles B. "Chuck" DeBellevueHanoi HiltonUrban L. DrewRichard EtchbergerBattle of Lima Site 85John P. FlynnDuane D. HackneyPaul JohnsonRobin OldsRalph ParrWilliam H. PitsenbargerCombat ControllerBattle of Shok ValleyKarl W. RichterJames Robinson RisnerR. Stephen RitchieRonald E. StorzO-1 Bird DogVietnam War POWDale E. StovallRoger LocherRobert M. WhiteCombat Action MedalFayetteville ObserverTwitterWayback MachineAwards and decorations of the United States Department of the Air ForceDistinguished ServiceSilver Star MedalLegion of MeritDistinguished Flying CrossAirman's MedalBronze Star MedalPurple HeartMeritorious Service MedalAir MedalAerial AchievementAir and Space CommendationAir and Space AchievementPresidential Unit CitationGallant Unit CitationMeritorious UnitAir and Space Outstanding UnitAir and Space Organizational ExcellenceCombat ReadinessAir Force Good ConductSpace Force Good ConductRemote Combat Effects Campaign MedalAir and Space CampaignNuclear Deterrence Operations Service MedalOutstanding Airman of the YearAir and Space RecognitionOverseas Service Short TourOverseas Service Long TourAir and Space Expeditionary ServiceAir and Space LongevityDevelopmental Special DutyNCO PME GraduateBasic Training Honor GraduateMarksmanshipAir and Space Training