Air Crew Europe Star

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Air Crew Europe Star
Date	1945
Branch of Service	British and Commonwealth aircrew
Campaign	European Air Operations 1939-44
Ribbon	Pale blue with black edges and a narrow yellow stripe on either side
Metal	Bronze
Size	Height 44mm; max. width 38mm
Obverse Reverse Plain reverse Clasps Atlantic France and Germany

The Air Crew Europe Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II. Specifically, the medal was awarded to Commonwealth aircrew who participated in operational flights over Europe, from UK bases.

Two months operational flying was required between 3rd September 1939 and the 8th May 1945 in order to qualify.

British uniform regulations stipulated that neither the Atlantic Star nor the France and Germany Star would be awarded to a recipient of the Air Crew Europe Star. Subsequent entitlement to the Atlantic Star or the France and Germany Star was denoted by the award of the appropriate clasp to the Air Crew Europe Star. However, regulations stipulated that only the first clasp earned could be worn with the medal. In undress uniform, a silver rosette was worn on the medal ribbon to denote the award of a clasp.

The ribbon for this medal, along with those of the other Second World War campaign stars, is reputed to have been designed by King George VI. The sky is represented by pale blue, night flying by the black stripes on the edges, with the yellow stripes representing enemy searchlights.

[edit] Clasps

• Atlantic

Awarded to those who subsequently became entitled to the Atlantic Star.

• France and Germany

Awarded to those who subsequently became entitled to the France and Germany Star.

[edit] Notes

[edit] Bibliography

• Mackay, J and Mussel, J (eds) - Medals Yearbook - 2006, (2005), Token Publishing.
• Joslin, Litherland, and Simpkin (eds), British Battles and Medals, (1988), Spink