10 U.S.C. § 9274

(a) No more than one Air Force Cross or distinguished-service medal may be awarded to a person. However, for each succeeding act that would otherwise justify the award of such a medal or cross, the President may award a suitable bar or other device to be worn as he directs. (b) Except as provided in subsection (c), no medal of honor, Air Force cross, distinguished-service medal, or device in place thereof, may be awarded to a person unless— (1) the award is made within five years after the date of the act justifying the award; (2) a statement setting forth the distinguished service and recommending official recognition of it was made within three years after the distinguished service; and (3) it appears from records of the Department of the Air Force that the person is entitled to the award. (c) If the Secretary of the Air Force determines that— (1) a statement setting forth the distinguished service and recommending official recognition of it was made and supported by sufficient evidence within three years after the distinguished service; and (2) no award was made, because the statement was lost or through inadvertence the recommendation was not acted on; a medal of honor, Air Force cross, distinguished-service medal, or device in place thereof, as the case may be, may be awarded to the person concerned within two years after the date of that determination.