page_title: Donald Blakeslee
section_title: Awards and honors
hierarchical_section_title: Donald Blakeslee / Awards and honors
caption_attribution_description: English: Brigadier General Jesse C Auton, General Eisenhower, General Spaatz, General Doolittle, Major General William Kepner and Colonel Blakeslee taken on the occasion of the awarding of the DFC Colonel Blakeslee and Captain Gentile. Debden, England.
context_page_description: Donald James Matthew Blakeslee was an officer in the United States Air Force, whose aviation career began as a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force flying Spitfire fighter aircraft during World War II. He then became a member of the Royal Air Force Eagle Squadrons, before transferring to the United States Army Air Forces in 1942. He flew more combat missions against the Luftwaffe than any other American fighter pilot, and by the end of the war was a flying ace credited with 15.5 aerial victories.
context_section_description: On March 6, 1944, the same day Blakeslee flew over Berlin, Dwight D. Eisenhower awarded him the Distinguished Service Cross. Blakeslee later earned another Distinguished Service Cross, as well as 8 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 2 Silver Stars, 8 Air Medals, and the British Distinguished Flying Cross. When he served in the Korean War, he also earned the Legion of Merit, an additional Distinguished Flying Cross, and four more Air Medals.
    Command pilot badge  Royal Air Force pilot brevet
    British Distinguished Flying Cross
    French Croix de Guerre with Palm
    Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
    Volunteer Overseas Service Medal (Canada)
    United Nations Korea Medal
    Korean War Service Medal
caption: Generals Jesse D. Auton; Dwight Eisenhower; Carl Spaatz; Jimmy Doolittle; William Kepner and Colonel Blakeslee in April 1944.
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