Air Force Cross (USA)

	Air Force Cross
Utdelad av: USA:s flygvapenminister; (I presidentens namn)
Typ	Medalj
För	Extraordinärt hjältemod i strid
Status	Delas för närvarande ut
Statistik
Först utdelad	1 november 1965
Totalt utdelade	203; varav 180 stycken för Vietnamkriget
Postumt utdelade	50
Företräde
Närmast (högre)	Medal of Honor
Likvärdig	Armén: Distinguished Service Cross; Flottan och Marinkåren: Navy Cross; Kustbevakningen: Coast Guard Cross
Närmast (lägre)	Distinguished Service Medals: Försvar, Armén, Flottan, Flygvapnet, Kustbevakningen
	; Släpspännet

Air Force Cross (förkortning: AFC^[2]) är en amerikansk tapperhetsmedalj, för extraordinärt hjältemod i strid, som är avsedd att tilldelas militär personal i USA:s flygvapen och USA:s rymdstyrka.^[1] Den kan även utdelas till militärer från andra försvarsgrenar eller utländska allierade trupper.^[2]

Beskrivning

Medaljens förekomst är stadgad i lag.^[3] Normalt kan den inte delas ut mer än en gång till samma person om inte särskilt tillstånd ges.^[4] Designen är framtagen av United States Army Institute of Heraldry.

Air Force Cross är den högsta utmärkelsen som utdelas av USA:s flygvapendepartement. Den är likvärdig och motsvarar i rang arméns Distinguished Service Cross och marinens Navy Cross. Enbart Medal of Honor står över den i rang. Medaljen instiftades den 1 november 1965 och innan dess tilldelades flygvapenpersonal arméns motsvarighet.

USA:s flygvapenminister är den som beslutar om tilldelning och brukar även vara den som delar ut den, vanligtvis vid en ceremoni i Pentagon.^[5]

Sedan 11 septemberattackerna 2001 har 13 stycken Air Force Cross tilldelats personal från flygvapnet, samtliga av dessa mottagare har tillhört specialförband ingående i Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).^[6]

Se även

Flygaräss

Referenser

Den här artikeln är helt eller delvis baserad på material från engelskspråkiga Wikipedia, Air Force Cross (United States), tidigare version.

Noter

^ [a b] ”DESCRIPTION OF MEDALS” (på engelska). valor.defense.gov. USA:s försvarsdepartement. https://valor.defense.gov/Description-of-Awards/. Läst 27 december 2022.
^ [a b] ”DOD INSTRUCTION 1348.33 DOD MILITARY DECORATIONS AND AWARDS PROGRAM” (på engelska) (Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness). www.esd.whs.mil. Washington Headquarters Services. 21 december 2016. https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/134833p.pdf. Läst 12 mars 2022.
^ 10 U.S.C. § 9272
^ 10 U.S.C. § 9274
^ ”AIR FORCE MANUAL 36-2806 AWARDS AND MEMORIALIZATION PROGRAM” (på engelska). Department of the Air Force. 10 juni 2019. sid. 64. Arkiverad från originalet den 9 februari 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220209225049/https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/afman36-2806/afman36-2806.pdf. Läst 12 mars 2022. ”A2.3. Air Force Cross (AFC).
A2.3.1. Eligibility. The medal was established by PL 88-593, 1 November 1965 and made effective 6 July 1960 by 10 USC § 8742. The medal is awarded to any person, while serving in any capacity with the Air Force, who distinguish himself or herself by extraordinary heroism, not justifying the award of a Medal of Honor:
A2.3.1.1. While engaged in an action against an enemy of the U.S.;
A2.3.1.2. While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or
A2.3.1.3. While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the U.S. is not a belligerent party.
A2.3.2. The required gallantry, while of a lesser degree than that required for award of the Medal of Honor, must nevertheless have been performed with marked distinction. (T-1).
A2.3.3. The gallant actions are reviewed against the award criteria to ensure the actions do not justify award of the Medal of Honor.
A2.3.4. Deserving actions prior to 6 July 1960 were recognized with an Army Distinguished Service Cross.
A2.3.5. Preparing a Recommendation. Refer to Attachment 13.
A2.3.6. Approval Authority. SECAF.
A2.3.7. Award Description.
A2.3.7.1. Medal. A bronze cross with an oxidized satin finish. Centered on the cross is a gold-plated American bald eagle, wings displayed against a cloud formation (from the Air Force Crest) encircled by a laurel wreath finished in green enamel.
A2.3.7.2. Ribbon. The ribbon is brittany blue, edged with Old Glory red, and bears a narrow white vertical stripe inside the red edges.
A2.3.8. Authorized Device. Refer to Table A2.2.
A2.3.9. Presentation. When practical, SECAF presents the medal in a formal ceremony at the Pentagon”
^ ”About” (på engelska). www.airforcespecialtactics.af.mil. Air Force Special Operations Command. https://www.airforcespecialtactics.af.mil/About/. Läst 12 mars 2022.

Externa länkar

Air Force Cross: Fact Sheet Display
Wikimedia Commons har media som rör Air Force Cross (USA).

[DESCRIPTION_OF_MEDALS-1] [a b] ”DESCRIPTION OF MEDALS” (på engelska). valor.defense.gov. USA:s försvarsdepartement. https://valor.defense.gov/Description-of-Awards/. Läst 27 december 2022.

[DOD_INSTRUCTION_1348.33_DOD_MILITARY_DECORATIONS_AND_AWARDS_PROGRAM-2] [a b] ”DOD INSTRUCTION 1348.33 DOD MILITARY DECORATIONS AND AWARDS PROGRAM” (på engelska) (Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness). www.esd.whs.mil. Washington Headquarters Services. 21 december 2016. https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/134833p.pdf. Läst 12 mars 2022.

[3] 10 U.S.C. § 9272

[4] 10 U.S.C. § 9274

[5] ”AIR FORCE MANUAL 36-2806 AWARDS AND MEMORIALIZATION PROGRAM” (på engelska). Department of the Air Force. 10 juni 2019. sid. 64. Arkiverad från originalet den 9 februari 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220209225049/https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/afman36-2806/afman36-2806.pdf. Läst 12 mars 2022. ”A2.3. Air Force Cross (AFC).
A2.3.1. Eligibility. The medal was established by PL 88-593, 1 November 1965 and made effective 6 July 1960 by 10 USC § 8742. The medal is awarded to any person, while serving in any capacity with the Air Force, who distinguish himself or herself by extraordinary heroism, not justifying the award of a Medal of Honor:
A2.3.1.1. While engaged in an action against an enemy of the U.S.;
A2.3.1.2. While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or
A2.3.1.3. While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the U.S. is not a belligerent party.
A2.3.2. The required gallantry, while of a lesser degree than that required for award of the Medal of Honor, must nevertheless have been performed with marked distinction. (T-1).
A2.3.3. The gallant actions are reviewed against the award criteria to ensure the actions do not justify award of the Medal of Honor.
A2.3.4. Deserving actions prior to 6 July 1960 were recognized with an Army Distinguished Service Cross.
A2.3.5. Preparing a Recommendation. Refer to Attachment 13.
A2.3.6. Approval Authority. SECAF.
A2.3.7. Award Description.
A2.3.7.1. Medal. A bronze cross with an oxidized satin finish. Centered on the cross is a gold-plated American bald eagle, wings displayed against a cloud formation (from the Air Force Crest) encircled by a laurel wreath finished in green enamel.
A2.3.7.2. Ribbon. The ribbon is brittany blue, edged with Old Glory red, and bears a narrow white vertical stripe inside the red edges.
A2.3.8. Authorized Device. Refer to Table A2.2.
A2.3.9. Presentation. When practical, SECAF presents the medal in a formal ceremony at the Pentagon”

[6] ”About” (på engelska). www.airforcespecialtactics.af.mil. Air Force Special Operations Command. https://www.airforcespecialtactics.af.mil/About/. Läst 12 mars 2022.

[2]