 "The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Ashley C. McKinley, U.S. Army Air Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight as aerial photographer for the 1928 – 1930 Byrd Antarctic Expedition.Capitan McKinley, in the face of the very gravest danger performed his duties in such a manner as to merit the highest praise.He participated in numerous flights over the South Pole on 28–29 November 1929.