Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-102
§9279 Distinguished Flying Cross: Award; Limitations
Title 10 › Subtitle D — Air Force and Space Force › PART II — PERSONNEL › CHAPTER 937 — DECORATIONS AND AWARDS › § 9279
Summary
The President can give a distinguished flying cross and ribbon to anyone serving in the Air Force or Space Force who shows heroism or does something very special while taking part in an aircraft or space flight. A person can get at most one of these crosses. If they later do another act that would deserve the cross, the President can instead give a bar or other device to be worn with the medal in the way the President decides.
Full Legal Text
Title 10, §9279
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 Air Force or Space Force, distinguishes himself by heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial or space 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.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 8749(a) 8749(b)8749(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, ch. 545, § 4, 50 Stat. 549. 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
2024—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 118–159 inserted “or Space Force” after “Air Force” and “or space” after “aerial”. 2019—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 116–92 struck out subsec. (c) which read as follows: “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.” 2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 8749 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. § 9279
Title 10, Armed Forces
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102