Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer

Presented to Kiffin Rockwell of the Lafayette Escadrille. The Combatant's Cross (French: "Croix du combattant") is a French decoration that recognizes those individuals who participated in combat for France during World War I. Initially a combatant card was established in December 1926 to recognize combat veterans. In 1930, a full decoration, the Combatant's Cross medal, was created.

American citizen Kiffin Rockwell volunteered to fly with the French Air Service during World War I prior to the United States' entry into the conflict. Rockwell was the first American pilot to shoot down an enemy aircraft in World War I. He was killed in action in September 1916, the second American airman to die in combat in France.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin France Type AWARDS-Medals & Ribbons Physical Description French Combatants Cross (Croix du Combattant); bronze maltese cross and crossed swords; Obverse: center disc a bust of a helmeted "Republic" with embossed letter text; Reverse: sword depicted in center disc surrounded by embossed letter text. Dimensions 3-D: 3.8 × 7.9 × 0.3cm (1 1/2 × 3 1/8 × 1/8 in.)
 Materials Medal:
Bronze
Ribbon:
Silk
Steel
 Inventory Number A19620114007 Credit Line Donated by Mr. Paul A. Rockwell Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.