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Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
Encyclopedia
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.
s, but this was expanded after the Second World War to include Army and Navy aviation officers, and again in 1993 to other ranks after the discontinuation of the Air Force Medal
.
During the First World War, approximately 680 were awarded. During the Second World War, 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.
"AFC". A bar is added to the ribbon for holders of the AFC who received a second award.
:Category:Recipients of the Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
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
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
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 OfficerWarrant Officer
A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
s, but this was expanded after the Second World War to include Army and Navy aviation officers, and again in 1993 to other ranks after the discontinuation of the Air Force Medal
Air Force Medal
The Air Force Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force 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...
.
During the First World War, approximately 680 were awarded. During the Second World War, 2,001 medals were awarded, with 26 bars awarded. One unique second bar was awarded to Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
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 lettersPost-nominal letters
Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials, post-nominal titles or designatory letters, are letters placed after the name of a person to indicate that the individual holds a position, educational degree, accreditation, office, or honour. An individual may use several different sets of...
"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 HermesHermesHermes is the great messenger of the gods in Greek mythology and a guide to the Underworld. Hermes was born on Mount Kyllini in Arcadia. An Olympian god, he is also the patron of boundaries and of the travelers who cross them, of shepherds and cowherds, of the cunning of thieves, of orators and...
riding on the wings of a hawk holding a laurel wreathLaurel wreathA laurel wreath is a circular wreath made of interlocking branches and leaves of the bay laurel , an aromatic broadleaf evergreen. In Greek mythology, Apollo is represented wearing a laurel wreath on his head...
. At the top of the upper arm is the royal crown, while the other three arms bear the royal cypherRoyal CypherIn modern heraldry, a royal cypher is a monogram-like device of a country's reigning sovereign, typically consisting of the initials of the monarch's name and title, sometimes interwoven and often surmounted by a crown. In the case where such a cypher is used by an emperor or empress, it is called...
of the reigning monarch at the time of issue. - The suspender is straight and decorated with laurel wreaths.
- 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.
| Air Force Cross ribbon bars | ||
|---|---|---|
| AFC | AFC and Bar | |
| 1918–1919 | ||
| since 1919 | ||
See also
- British and Commonwealth orders and decorations
:Category:Recipients of the Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)