Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-102
§7279 Distinguished Flying Cross: Award; Limitations
Title 10 › Subtitle B — Army › PART II — PERSONNEL › CHAPTER 737 — DECORATIONS AND AWARDS › § 7279
Summary
President may give a Distinguished Flying Cross with ribbon to anyone serving with the Army for heroism or extraordinary achievement in aerial flight. Only one cross per person; later acts may earn a bar or device. No award if later service was not honorable.
Full Legal Text
Title 10, §7279
Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)The President may award a distinguished flying cross of appropriate design with accompanying ribbon to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Army, distinguishes himself by heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight.
(b)Not more than one distinguished flying cross may be awarded to a person. However, for each succeeding act that would otherwise justify the award of such a cross, the President may award a suitable bar or other device to be worn as he directs.
(c)No distinguished flying cross, or device in place thereof, may be awarded or presented to a person whose service after he distinguished himself has not been honorable.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 3749(a) 3749(b)3749(c)10:1429 (less 2d and last sentences).10:1429 (2d sentence).10:1429 (last sentence, less 1st 49 words).
July 2, 1926, ch. 721, § 12 (less 1st 49 words of last sentence), 44 Stat. 789;
July 30, 1937, § 4, 50 Stat. 549. Although 10:1429 refers to persons serving “with the Air Corps of the Army”, and the functions of the Army Air Corps have been transferred to the Air Force under section 208(b) of the National Security Act of 1947 (5 U.S.C. 626c(b)), members of the Army continue to participate in aerial flights and are eligible for the award of the distinguished flying cross. In subsection (a), the words “Under such
Rules and Regulations
as he may prescribe” are omitted, since the President has inherent authority to issue
Regulations
appropriate to exercising his functions. The words “but not in the name of Congress” are omitted as surplusage, since a medal is presented in the name of Congress only if the law so directs. The word “award” is substituted for the word “present” to cover the determination of the recipients as well as the actual presentation of the medal. The words “since the 6th day of April, 1917, has distinguished, or who, after July 2, 1926” and 10:1429 (proviso of 1st sentence) are omitted as executed.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 3749 of this title as this section.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2018 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of
Amendments
and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
10 U.S.C. § 7279
Title 10, Armed Forces
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102