Need a help: British awards in period of BoB.

[battleofbritaintv]

Follow in post-real time the true life exploits of a Battle of Britain Spitfire pilot - His Logbook being published online week by week as the Battle progresses:


No medal photos here, just the real story of One of the Few:


http://www.battleofbritain.tv/Logbook.html

[Tbag]

Not for the BoB but probably for later: The Goldfish club badge:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldfish_Club
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgur...MtvAsgbeqZTGCQ

[*Buzzsaw*]

Originally Posted by Oleg Maddox

Need good images and precise system of awards

The Russian guy who is doing for us such thing is in development "trouble" due to bad research (he don't speak in English...)

If you can help - we would be very glad!
Let me know please here.

Hello Oleg

You may remember me from our other discussions... ;o)

I am in India enjoying a vacation travelling on a motorcycle, but I cannot resist looking at the advancement of my favorite game.

Here is the answer to your question. It is simple, but also complicated.

The British Army, Navy and Airforce had a class system, that is, they differentiated between Officers and ordinary soldiers. This applied to the awarding of medals, except in the lowest case, "Mentioned in Despatches", and the highest case, the Victoria Cross.

The British did not like to give out many medals, they gave out less than other nations, and had less types.

Below are the ONLY awards for bravery. All other awards were for non combat service or ordinary service.

Here are the awards for those pilots who are of rank below Officer, ie. Sergeant or Flight Sergeant.

These awards are in order of importance, from lowest to highest.

Mentioned in Despatches: This is a low level award, when a pilot has done favourably, his success can be mentioned in the Official British Military Despatch for the day in the London Gazette newspaper. (which is written every day) The award is an Oak Leaf, and can be seen at this link where one is being sold on Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=200350019726

Wiki Page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentioned_in_Despatches

Distinguished Flying Medal

This is the first real medal, only awarded to ordinary pilots. A pilot can be awarded many of these, if he gains a second award, the original medal has a 'Bar' added, which is a silver bar across the ribbon.

Wiki Page is here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Flying_Medal

Distinguished Conduct Medal

This is the second most important medal an ordinary pilot can win, showing extreme bravery, equivalent to an Officer winning a Distinguished Service Order. Again, there can be several of these medals awarded to the same person, again, if this happens, the original medal is shown with a 'Bar' for each additional award.

Wiki page is here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disting..._Conduct_Medal

And finally, there is the Victoria Cross, which can be awarded to either ordinary pilots, or Officers, the very highest award, normally only awarded for extreme personal bravery in the face of the highest challenge. There can also be more than one VC awarded, again, additional are shown by 'Bar', but this is EXTREMELY rare.

Wiki Page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Cross


Officer's medals

Mentioned in Despatchs (same as above)

Distinguished Flying Cross

This is the same importance as the Distinguished Flying Medal, except it is only given to Officers. A pilot could win a Distinguished Flying Medal when he was a Sergeant, then win a Distinguished Flying Cross when he became an Officer. Multiple awards are show with a "Bar".

Wiki Page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disting...Cross_%28UK%29


Distinguished Service Order

This is the second most important medal an Officer can be awarded, usually only awarded to Squadron Leader or higher rank. Additional awards are shown with a 'Bar'.

Wiki Page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disting..._Service_Order

Victoria Cross

Same as for ordinary pilots, only awarded for extreme personal bravery, very rare.

Wiki page same as above.

>>>

There were also Campaign medals, awarded to pilots who just participated in fighting on a front.

For example a pilot fighting in the Battle of Britain, even if he had no success, would be awarded the 1939-1945 Star with Battle of Britain clasp:

Wiki Page here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1939-1945_Star


Hope this is useful information.

[jaqbovsky]

Hi!

It's my first post here and i must say: "You forgot Poland"!

In BoB period many polish RAF sqadrons pilots and foregin pilots too, awarded from Polish Government in Exile (I mean Polish Commander-in-Chief gen. W. Sikorski).

I'm not history expert but I know few military awards that, i post here few wiki links... sorry bout' that...

Polish Military Awards given in 1940r:

Nice page: http://home.golden.net/~medals/exile.html

Virtuti Militari Cross
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtuti_Militari


Here is translate page(from polish) about this award in Polish Air Force during WW II:
http://translate.google.pl/translate...ml&sl=pl&tl=en
Cross have 5 classes and Star(in I class).
Dimensions:

I class = Grand Cross with Star (Wielki)– 62 x 62 mm; crown 30 x 36 mm,
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...rand_Cross.jpg
http://home.golden.net/~medals/0267.jpg
Star
http://home.golden.net/~medals/0269.jpg

II class - Commander's Cross (Komandorski) – 54 x 54 mm; crown 23 x 33 mm,
http://home.golden.net/~medals/00272a00.jpg
http://home.golden.net/~medals/00272r00.jpg

III class - Knight's Cross (Kawalerski) - 44 x 44 mm,
http://www.numizmatyka.waw.pl/sklep/...1939-roku_3875

IV class - Golden Cross – 39 x 39 mm,
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._from_1813.png

V class - Silver Cross – 38 x 38 mm.
http://www.numizmatyka.waw.pl/sklep/...1939-roku_3803
http://www.numizmatyka.waw.pl/sklep/...1939-roku_3802

I think in game would be only IV and V class... and maybe III... II and I class cross is very important award so i think there was imposslible to award normal pilot, not commander,

Cross of Valour
The medal was introduced at the height of the Polish-Soviet War.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_of_Valour_(Poland)
It is most 'common' military award in BoB period, similar to Silver Star, Croix de Guerre and Iron Cross.

In January 1940 the Polish Commander-in-Chief, Władysław Sikorski, issued an order reintroducing the Cross of Valour.

Important is the date 1920 at the bottom of cross.
Photos:
http://www.numizmatyka.waw.pl/sklep/...1939-roku_2608
http://historia.wiszowaty.pl/wiszowa...walecznych.jpg
http://www.muzeum-ak.krakow.pl/odzna...alecznychn.jpg

Cross of Merit
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_of_Merit_(Poland)
It is civil medal but it was given to militarymen too. But When gov ordered Cross of Merit with Swords in 1942 it is back to civil nature http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_of_Merit_with_Swords.

Wound Badge
Similar to Purple Heart Medal.
Injured 1 time
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...iazdki_BAR.png
Injured 2 times
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...iazdki_BAR.png
Injured 3 times
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...iazdka_BAR.png

Medal za Ratowanie Ginących(rescue of "dying people")
Civil and military award for rescue of "dying people" (Ginących). For saveing polish peoples in Poland and in other countries.
Polish wiki source: http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medal_z..._Gin%C4%85cych

Air Force Service Medal 1939-1945
After war award for a 6 months in front service and 12 months out of front.
http://www.ww2awards.com/award/168
Polish: http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medal_Lotniczy

Order for a long duty:
Here is orginal order for infantrymen from 1938'
http://www.numizmatyka.waw.pl/sklep/...1939-roku_2556

Insignia Flying Personnel:
I think it's similar in 1940. But if someone hv better knowledge about that, i would agree with...
Translate from polish:
http://translate.google.pl/translate...39&sl=pl&tl=en
Photos:
http://forum.valka.cz/attachments/6967/skalski8.jpg
http://www.numizmatyka.waw.pl/sklep/...-1939-roku_275

I think when in Battle of Britain Polish RAF 303sq was one of the best RAF squadron (if not the Best of all RAF squadrons in BoB period of course..) would be nice to see that kind of military awards.

Example:
Josef František was awarded:
czech War cross 1939
czech Medal for Bravery
czech War Medal "Za Zasługi" II class
pol Silver cross War Award Virtuti Militarii
pol Cross of Valour - 3 times
British Distinguished Flying Medal - 2 times (DFM with Bar) - as a first no british
British 1939-1945 Star with (klamrą?) "Battle of Britain"
Fr War Cross (Croix de Guerre)


Sorry for my very bad EN.

[deadmeat313]

The Victoria Cross should only VERY rarely be awarded. Actually, you'd be better off not including it as a possible award at all, than to have it awarded too easily.

I'd hate to finish a sortie, read the debrief and think "Oh, I've won a VC. That's nice." The vast majority of British servicemen and women would never see such an award, and to have one pop up mid-campaign would be incongruous to say the least.

I like the sound of "Mentioned in Despatches" though. That has a nice ring to it.

T

[Icewolf]

only one Victoria Cross was awarded during the Battle of Britain that involved 3,000 pilots
"Flight Lieutenant J.B. Nicolson of 249 Squadron"

[KG26_Alpha]

Originally Posted by Icewolf

only one Victoria Cross was awarded during the Battle of Britain that involved 3,000 pilots
"Flight Lieutenant J.B. Nicolson of 249 Squadron"

I think he deserves a full write up

On August 16th 1940, 23-year-old Flight Lieutenant James Nicolson of No. 249 Squadron was scrambled from Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, flying Hurricane P3576 of Red Section with Squadron Leader Eric King and Pilot Officer Martyn King

The pilots were to intercept and attack BF110's approaching Southampton from Gosport where a large raid was building up. The invaders had been sighted and Red Section dived towards the BF110's when, suddenly, a Staffel of BF109's jumped them from above. All three Hurricanes were hit.

Squadron Leader King, the least badly damaged, broke off his attack and returned to Boscombe Down. Pilot Officer King abandoned his burning Hurricane and baled out.

Four cannon shells hit Flight Lieutenant Nicolson's aircraft. One destroyed the perspex hood subsequently damaging his left eye and temporarily blinding him with blood. The reserve petrol tank was also struck along with his left leg. The Hurricane was now ablaze with the instrument panel melting, his hands blistering from the heat and his trousers on fire
Whilst preparing to bale out, a BF110 appeared in front of him. He slid back into his burning cockpit and continued flying the Hurricane after the enemy. Closing in, Nicolson opened fire and although the BF110 took evasive action to avoid the bullets, it was sent crashing into the sea
Finally baling out of his stricken aircraft, Nicolson had sustained severe burns to his hands, parts of his face, his eyelid was torn and his foot badly wounded. His ordeal however, was not quite over.

While descending towards the ground some Local Defence Volunteers (LVD), under orders, opened fire with rifles at what they believed to be enemy parachutists. Pilot Officer King had his parachute badly damaged and plummeted to his death. Flight Lieutenant Nicolson, in great pain, landed alive with further wounds received from shotgun pellets
He was rushed to The Royal Southampton Hospital where he made a full recovery and returned to active duty during late 1941.

His bravery and disregard for his own life in defence of his country earned him the Victoria Cross, which was awarded on 15th November 1940.

Tragically, he went missing while flying as a passenger in Liberator over the Bay of Bengal on 2nd May 1945.

------------------------------

[LukeFF]

Originally Posted by Oleg Maddox

Need good images and precise system of awards

The Russian guy who is doing for us such thing is in development "trouble" due to bad research (he don't speak in English...)

If you can help - we would be very glad!
Let me know please here.

Pierre Clostermann gives some good information about the British award system in his autobiography:

A Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded after five kills in around one hundred missions. A Bar to the D.F.C. was given between the tenth and twentieth kill and finally, the Distinguished Service Order was given to Wing Commanders or Squadron Commanders after twenty kills or three hundred missions.

A footnote to the above notes the following about Clostermann:

The author received his first D.F.C. after 8 confirmed kills and almost 300 missions, his second D.F.C. after 370 missions and 20 kills and finally a D.S.O. after 420 missions, 33 kills and the successful command of a Squadron and a Wing.

[LukeFF]

Moving right along...

It seems that something like this should be the criteria for RAF medals:

DFC: 5 kills
Bar to the DFC: ~15 kills
DSO: ~20 kills

Where would that leave other historically relevant medals?

Interesting but irrelevant, the VC can not be taken away from its recipitant even if he is convicted of treason!