page_title: Ralph Ambrose O'Neill
section_title: Military awards
hierarchical_section_title: Ralph Ambrose O'Neill / Military awards
caption_attribution_description: English: O'Neill awarded Distinguished Service Cross
context_page_description: Ralph Ambrose O'Neill was a flying ace from World War I credited with 103 combat patrols and five aerial victories. He was the first Commander and "Chief" of the modern Mexican Air Force. He was also a pioneer of commercial aviation.
context_section_description: Distinguished Service Cross (DSC):
  First citation:
  For extraordinary heroism in action near Château Thierry, France, 2 July 1918, Lt. O'Neill and four other pilots attacked twelve enemy battle planes. In a battle within the enemy's lines, they brought down three German planes, one of which was credited to Lt. O'Neill.
  Second citation:
  The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Ralph Ambrose O'Neill, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Chateau-Thierry, France: On July 5, 1918, First Lieutenant O'Neill led three other pilots in battle against eight German pursuit planes near Chateau-Thierry. He attacked the leader, opening fire at about 150 yards, and closing up to 30 yards range. After a quick and decisive fight the enemy aircraft fell in flames. He then turned on three other machines that were attacking him from the rear and brought one of them down. The other five enemy planes were driven away.
  Third citation:
  The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Ralph Ambrose O'Neill, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Fresnes, France, July 24, 1918: Lieutenant O'Neill, with four other pilots, engaged 12 enemy planes discovered hiding in the sun. Leading the way to an advantageous position by a series of bold and skillful maneuvers. Lieutenant O'Neill shot down the leader of the hostile formation. The other German planes then closed in on him, but he climbed to a position of vantage above them and returned to the fight and drove down another plane. In this encounter he not only defeated his opponents in spite of overwhelming odds against him, but also enabled the reconnaissance plane to carry on its work unmolested.
  Croix de Guerre
  Fierce combat pilot with unfailing courage.  On July 5, 1918, he destroyed two enemy planes.  On July 2, he attacked with his patrol a formation of twelve enemy battle planes and officially shot one down.  On July 24, he shot down a new adversary and put to flight a second after a fierce combat.
caption: O'Neill awarded Distinguished Service Cross
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