Need a help: British awards in period of BoB.

[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.