Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)

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For other uses, see Air Force Cross.
Air Force Cross



Obverse of medal and ribbon
Awarded by United Kingdom and Commonwealth
Type Military decoration.
Eligibility British, (formerly) Commonwealth, and allied forces
Awarded for ... for gallantry while flying but not on active operations against the enemy.[1]
Status Currently awarded.
Description silver cross
Statistics
Established 3 June 1918

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.

The award was established on June 3, 1918. It was originally awarded to air force commissioned officers and to Warrant Officers. Since World War II the award has been open to army and naval aviation officers, and since 1993 to other ranks as well; the Air Force Medal, previously awarded to other ranks, has been discontinued.

During World War I, approximately 680 were awarded. During World War II, 2,001, 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 of other non-commonwealth countries.

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.

[edit] Description

  • The medal is a silver cross 60mm high and 54mm 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.
  • 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.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Defence FactSheet Accessed 28 June 2007.

[edit] See also