Distinguished Flying Cross
noun
1
: a British military decoration awarded for acts of gallantry when flying in operations against an enemy
2
: a U.S. military decoration awarded for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight
Examples of Distinguished Flying Cross in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
During his service, McCook received the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross, according to newspaper clippings.
—
June 4, CBS News, 4 June 2025
Among them was Dwight Wait, a Vietnam veteran and former Rowe parent, who earned a Distinguished Flying Cross Medal for his service in the Air Force.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2025
Caine has more than 2,800 flying hours in the F-16 and has earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster, among other awards.
—Arkansas Online, 2 Apr. 2025
Stewart’s legacy includes earning the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service and later advocating for diversity in aviation.
—Oumou Fofana, Essence, 7 Feb. 2025
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and served on the USS Bon Homme Richard during the Korean War, trained with Army special forces, and completed Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape training, the Navy said.
—Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 7 Jan. 2025
His military honors included the Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster.
—David Chiu, Peoplemag, 13 July 2024
In 1927: President Calvin Coolidge gave Charles Lindbergh the first Distinguished Flying Cross three weeks after Lindbergh’s historic nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
—Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 11 June 2024
Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic and the first woman to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross, left Oakland on May 20, 1937 in her two-engine Lockheed Electra 10E plane, accompanied by Fred Noonan, her navigator.
—David R. Cameron, Hartford Courant, 31 Jan. 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
June 4, CBS News, 4 June 2025
Among them was Dwight Wait, a Vietnam veteran and former Rowe parent, who earned a Distinguished Flying Cross Medal for his service in the Air Force.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2025
Caine has more than 2,800 flying hours in the F-16 and has earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster, among other awards.
—Arkansas Online, 2 Apr. 2025
Stewart’s legacy includes earning the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service and later advocating for diversity in aviation.
—Oumou Fofana, Essence, 7 Feb. 2025
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and served on the USS Bon Homme Richard during the Korean War, trained with Army special forces, and completed Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape training, the Navy said.
—Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 7 Jan. 2025
His military honors included the Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster.
—David Chiu, Peoplemag, 13 July 2024
In 1927: President Calvin Coolidge gave Charles Lindbergh the first Distinguished Flying Cross three weeks after Lindbergh’s historic nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
—Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 11 June 2024
Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic and the first woman to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross, left Oakland on May 20, 1937 in her two-engine Lockheed Electra 10E plane, accompanied by Fred Noonan, her navigator.
—David R. Cameron, Hartford Courant, 31 Jan. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Distinguished Flying Cross.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Distinguished%20Flying%20Cross. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share