Air Force Medal
Encyclopedia
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 Officer
s (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.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
) and other services
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth
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, 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
Other Ranks
Other Ranks in the British Army, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force are those personnel who are not commissioned officers. In the Royal Navy, these personnel are called ratings...
' equivalent to the Air Force Cross
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
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"...
, which was awarded to commissioned officers and Warrant Officer
Warrant 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 (although WOs could also be awarded the AFM), but ranked below it in order of precedence, between the Distinguished Flying Medal
Distinguished Flying Medal
The Distinguished Flying Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and the 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 in active...
and the Queen's Gallantry Medal
Queen's Gallantry Medal
The Queen's Gallantry Medal is the third level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.It was instituted on 20 June 1974 to replace the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry, the British Empire Medal for Gallantry, and the Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry...
.
The AFM was awarded 259 times during WW2.
Recipients of the Air Force Medal are entitled to use the post-nominal letters
Post-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...
"AFM". In 1993, the AFM was discontinued, and since then the Air Force Cross has been awarded to personnel of all ranks.
Description
- An oval, silver medal, 1.375 inches wide and 1.625 inches long. The obverse shows a bareheaded effigy of the reigning sovereign.
- The reverse shows 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...
(facing right) is shown, mounted on a hawkHawkThe term hawk can be used in several ways:* In strict usage in Australia and Africa, to mean any of the species in the subfamily Accipitrinae, which comprises the genera Accipiter, Micronisus, Melierax, Urotriorchis and Megatriorchis. The large and widespread Accipiter genus includes goshawks,...
in flight and bestowing a wreath, all contained within 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...
. The date 1918 appears behind Hermes on the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II medals. - A bomb is attached to the clasp and ribbon by two wings.
- The ribbon is 1.25 inches wide, and consists of alternate red and white stripes (1/16" wide) leaning 45 degrees to the left. A red stripe is to appear in the bottom left and upper right corners when viewed on the wearer's chest. Until 1919, the stripes were horizontal.
| Air Force Medal ribbon bars | ||
|---|---|---|
| AFM | AFM and Bar | |
| 1918–1919 | ||
| 1919–1993 | ||
See also
- British and Commonwealth orders and decorations
- Page including text from the London Gazette dated 5 December 1919 establishing DFC, AFC, DFM and AFM