One other award I've not seen so far mentioned in this thread is the Air Force Cross and the Air Force Medal.
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy". A bar is added to the ribbon for holders who are awarded a second AFC.
History
The award was established on 3 June 1918. It was originally awarded to Air Force commissioned officers and Warrant Officers, but this was expanded after World War II to include Army and Navy aviation officers, and again in 1993 to enlisted personnel after the discontinuation of the Air Force Medal. [2]
During World War II, 2,001 medals were awarded, with 26 bars awarded. One unique second bar was awarded to Wing Commander H J Wilson in 1944.
58 honorary awards were made to aircrew from other non-Commonwealth countries.
Post-nominal letters
Recipients of the Air Force Cross are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "AFC". A bar is added to the ribbon for holders of the AFC who received a second award.
Description
The medal is a silver cross 60 mm high and 54 mm wide, representing aircraft propeller blades, with wings between the arms. The obverse depicts Hermes riding on the wings of a hawk holding a laurel wreath. At the top of the upper arm is the royal crown while the other three arms bear the Royal Cypher of the reigning monarch at the time of issue. [2]
The suspender is straight and decorated with laurel wreaths. [2]
The ribbon was originally white with red broad horizontal stripes, but changed in 1919 to the current white with red broad diagonal stripes at a 45-degree angle.
The Air Force Medal was (until 1993) a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force (United Kingdom) and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy".
The medal was established on 3 June 1918. It was the other ranks' equivalent to the Air Force Cross, which was awarded to commissioned officers and Warrant Officers (although WOs could also be awarded the AFM), but ranked below it in order of precedence, between the Distinguished Flying Medal and the Queen's Gallantry Medal.
The AFM was awarded 259 times during WW2.
Recipients of the Air Force Medal are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "AFM". In 1993, the AFM was discontinued, and since then the Air Force Cross has been awarded to personnel of all ranks.
Herewith some details:
he Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy". A bar is added to the ribbon for holders who are awarded a second AFC.
History
The award was established on 3 June 1918. It was originally awarded to Air Force commissioned officers and Warrant Officers, but this was expanded after World War II to include Army and Navy aviation officers, and again in 1993 to enlisted personnel after the discontinuation of the Air Force Medal. [2]
During World War II, 2,001 medals were awarded, with 26 bars awarded. One unique second bar was awarded to Wing Commander H J Wilson in 1944.
58 honorary awards were made to aircrew from other non-Commonwealth countries.
Post-nominal letters
Recipients of the Air Force Cross are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "AFC". A bar is added to the ribbon for holders of the AFC who received a second award.
Description
The medal is a silver cross 60 mm high and 54 mm wide, representing aircraft propeller blades, with wings between the arms. The obverse depicts Hermes riding on the wings of a hawk holding a laurel wreath. At the top of the upper arm is the royal crown while the other three arms bear the Royal Cypher of the reigning monarch at the time of issue. [2]
The suspender is straight and decorated with laurel wreaths. [2]
The ribbon was originally white with red broad horizontal stripes, but changed in 1919 to the current white with red broad diagonal stripes at a 45-degree angle.
The Air Force Medal was (until 1993) a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force (United Kingdom) and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy".
The medal was established on 3 June 1918. It was the other ranks' equivalent to the Air Force Cross, which was awarded to commissioned officers and Warrant Officers (although WOs could also be awarded the AFM), but ranked below it in order of precedence, between the Distinguished Flying Medal and the Queen's Gallantry Medal.
The AFM was awarded 259 times during WW2.
Recipients of the Air Force Medal are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "AFM". In 1993, the AFM was discontinued, and since then the Air Force Cross has been awarded to personnel of all ranks.
Also worthy of explanation, and applicable to all British medals, when ribbons only worn, ie everyday working dress, the award of a bar, eg AFC and bar, was signified by a silver rosette sewn to the ribbon. See picture above for example.
Pete
Edit: Apologies to PeterPanPan. AFC included in your post of 03/03/10. But AFM for other ranks also valid so not all in vain.
Pete