Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)

Air Force Cross

Obverse of medal.

Ribbon: 30mm, diagonal alternate stripes of white and red.
Awarded by United Kingdom and Commonwealth
Type Military decoration
Eligibility British, Commonwealth (formerly) and allied forces
Awarded for "... gallantry while flying but not on active operations against the enemy."[1]
Status Currently awarded
Description see below
Statistics
Established 3 June 1918
Total awarded George V: 804
George VI: 3,053
Total: 3,857[2]
Order of Wear
Next (higher) Distinguished Flying Cross[3]
Next (lower) Royal Red Cross, Second Class[3]
Related Air Force Medal

The Air Force Cross (AFC) 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.[4]

History

The award was established on 3 June 1918. It was originally awarded to Air Force commissioned officers and Warrant Officers, 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.[4]

During the First World War, approximately 680 were awarded. During the Second World War, 2,001 medals were awarded, with 26 bars awarded.

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 letters "AFC". A bar is added to the ribbon of holders of the AFC for each additional award.

Description

Air Force Cross ribbon bars
AFC AFC and Bar
1918–1919
since 1919

See also

Notes

  1. "Defence FactSheet". Retrieved 2008-10-09.
  2. Medal Yearbook 2013. Honiton, Devon: Token. 2013. p. 87. ISBN 978-1-908-828-00-2.
  3. 1 2 "JSP 761 Honours and Awards in the Armed Forces" (PDF). p. 12A-1. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "MOD - AFC". Retrieved 2008-10-09.

External links

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