The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Air Service) Virgil Hine, U.S. Army Air Service, for extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight in connection with the first successful experiment in refueling an airplane in the air, on 28 – 29 June 1923. As Pilot of the refueling airplane, Lieutenant Hine successfully made repeated contacts with another airplane in flight, and by supplying gasoline, oil, and water to the latter, enabled it to break the then existing endurance, speed and distance records. The skill, courage, and resourcefulness displayed by Lieutenant Hine on this occasion, reflected great credit upon himself and the military service.