Awarded The DFC Medal Twice, once with Honors
DFC Society
President Coolidge presented the first Distinguished Flying Cross medal, on 11 June, 1927, to Captain Charles A. Lindbergh of the Army Corps Reserve for his solo flight of 3600 miles across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927, a feat which electrified the world and “Lindy” one of America’s most popular heroes.
The first Distinguished Flying Cross awarded to a Navy man was to Commander Richard E. Byrd of the Navy Air Corps for his flight across the Atlantic in the aircraft America in June 1927, not for his exciting flight to and from the North Pole as is widely reported.
Both of these famous aviators also received the Medal of Honor. The aviatrix, Amelia Earhart, was also awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. At the time hers was the first such award to a civilian. An executive order in March 1927 ruled that the Distinguished Flying Cross should not be conferred on civilians. Initial awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross were made to persons who made record breaking long distance and endurance flights and who set altitude records. The Secretary of War authorized the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Charles A. Lindbergh in a letter dated 31 May 1927. Robert Neubauer is a lifetime member of the DFC Society which includes his name on the honor roll with an abbreviated summary of a letter of commendation from his commanding officer while in country in Vietnam.
Letter Describing Neubauer's Gallantry
"Major Robert Neubauer distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with the operations against opposing armed force near Quang Tri, Republic of Vietnam on October 6, 1966". Weather was deteriorating down to 1,000 foot overcast and only 2 miles visibility in light rain. As the Viet Con advanced on the friendly Vietnamese Airborne Battalion, two armored troop carriers were sent in for extraction but were unsuccessful. Their only hope being pinned down was an airstrike, but they were less than 300 meters away and thought it nearly impossible to make a strike without risking themselves as collateral damage.
Five Runs Made Over The Enemy Target Under Fire.
Five times while being subjected to automatic weapons fire, Neubauer made marking runs over and over to mark the enemy position. This would allow the F-4 fighter jets overhead to be cleared hot onto the target and drop Napalm to eliminate the inevitable over run of the friendly forces.
3 Min Movie on the History of the DFC
DFC's are awarded on the same criteria in the four branches of service, Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.
Recipients include; Wright Brothers, Chuck Yeager, Amelia Earhart, Jimmy Doolittle, John Glen, Jimmy Stuart and many others including Lt. Col Neubauer as a two time recipient. One DFC was awarded with "honor" emphasizing a level of distinction that sets this recipient apart highlighting an act of bravery during a mission through an act of valor and gallantry.
Wall of Honor National Aviation and Space Museum
The Museum near Washington Dulles International Airport is the companion facility to the Museum on the National Mall. The building opened in December, 2003, and provides enough space for the Smithsonian to display the thousands of aviation and space artifacts that cannot be exhibited on the National Mall. The two sites together showcase the largest collection of aviation and space artifacts in the world.
The Dulles Museum
he Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum maintains the world's largest and most significant collection of aviation and space artifacts, encompassing all aspects of human flight, as well as related works of art and archival materials. It operates two landmark facilities that, together, welcome more than eight million visitors a year, making it the most visited museum in the country. It also is home to the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies.
With a Passion For Flight
The Wall of Honor is located along a tree-lined walkway which leads into the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.
The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Neubauer reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.