"Awarded to any person while serving in any capacity with the Navy or Marine Corps who distinguishes himself with extraordinary heroism not justifying the award of the Medal of Honor, ... while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; ... To warrant this distinctive decoration the act should involve risk of life so extraordinary as to set this person apart from his contemporaries." Established in 1919.
One WWII Navy flier who received the Navy Cross was Ensign Leslie Lockhart Bruce Knox, an Australian who was serving with the USN. After the Battle of the Coral Sea, he was posthumously promoted to Lieutenant (jg) on 25 June 1942 and awarded the Navy Cross. The Citation read:
"For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous courage as pilot of an aircraft in a fighting squadron in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Battle of the Coral Sea. On that evening, as one of the fighters launched to oppose enemy Japanese aircraft in the vicinity of his ship, Ensign Knox attacked a formation of seven enemy aircraft, shooting down one and assisting in the action which resulted in dispersing the others. In this engagement he displayed unusual skill and devotion to duty, carrying out his mission with determination and aggressiveness against great enemy odds and with complete disregard for his own personal safety. He failed to return from this action."
Decorations,
Medals, Ribbons, Badges and Insignia of the United States Navy: World
War II to Present by James G. Thompson.
Includes sections on Navy insignia, ranks, rates, & ratings, sleeve devices, service stripes, specialty marks, identification badges, wearing ribbons and medals, foreign decorations, aiguillettes, brassards, buttons, placement of devices, commemorative medals, etc.
Other noted U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aces who received the Navy Cross include:
all of whom you can read about in the linked articles.
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