Many honours and decorations may be conferred on members of the Royal Air Force
MEDALS AWARDED TO R.A.F. PERSONNEL. Further details of each are given in the text below.
MANY honours and decorations may be conferred quite irrespective of the service to which the recipient may belong. Others are only awarded to particular services. The following four decorations may be won by members of the three Services, and in the case of the George Cross and George Medal, by civilians also:
Victoria Cross (Fig. 5). The most highly prized distinction of the fighting services, it takes precedence over every other. It was instituted in 1856 and is awarded for the performance in the presence of the enemy of some pre-eminent act of valour or devotion to duty. When the ribbon only is worn a miniature of the medal is fixed in the centre of the ribbon. This applies also to the George Cross. The V.C. ribbon, which is one and a half inches wide, was originally blue for the Navy and claret for the Army. The latter colour was adopted for all three Services during the war of 1914-18. The V.C. may also be awarded to officers and men of the Merchant Navy serving under naval, military or air force authority.
George Cross (Fig. 4). Instituted in 1940 to recognize exceptional deeds of valour. It may be awarded to members of the fighting Services as well as to civilians. It embraces the functions under which was formerly awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal, recipients of which are entitled to the later decoration. It ranks second only to the V.C. The ribbon is plain blue.
George Medal (Fig. 6). Instituted in 1940, it is awarded for valour and may be won both by men and women, civilian or otherwise. The medal ribbon is red with a thin blue vertical stripe.
Distinguished Service Order (Fig. 2). Instituted in 1886 for commissioned officers specially recommended for meritorious or distinguished service in action before the enemy. The D.S.O. is the most colourful of medals here described. It consists of a cross enamelled white, with gold edges. The laurel wreath is enamelled green and the crown is of gold on a red background. The ribbon consists of a wide red central band edged with blue.
The following medals are exclusively R.A.F. Decorations:
Distinguished Flying Cross (Fig. 1). Dating from 1918, it is awarded to officers and warrant officers of the R.A.F. only for exceptional valour, courage or devotion to duty while flying on active operations against the enemy. The ribbon, which is an inch and a quarter wide, is of violet and white in alternate diagonal stripes, one eighth of an inch wide.
Air Force Cross (Fig. 3). Instituted in 1918. It is awarded to officers and warrant officers of the R.A.F. and to civilians for acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty while flying. The ribbon is similar to that for the D.F.C. except that red stripes replace the violet.
Distinguished Flying Medal (Fig. 10). Founded simultaneously with the D.F.C., it is awarded to non-commissioned officers and men of the R.A.F. for exceptional valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy. The ribbon is similar to the D.F.C., but the stripes are one sixteenth of an inch wide.
Air Force Medal (Fig. 7). Awarded in the same circumstances as the A.F.C., but to N.C.O.’s and airmen of the R.A.F., to members of the other services, and to civilians. The ribbon is similar to the A.F.C. except that the stripes are one sixteenth of an inch wide.
Long Service and Good Conduct Medal of the R.A.F. (Fig. 8). Awarded to N.C.O.’s who have completed eighteen years exemplary service. The ribbon is dark blue and crimson equally divided, with white edges.
Meritorious Service Medal (Fig. 9). Instituted in 1845, it is awarded to warrant officers, N.C.O.’s and men for valuable services in the field as distinct from flying services. The R.A.F. have a distinctive ribbon for the M.S.M. It is of red and blue, equally divided, with white edges and a white central stripe.
In addition, the O.B.E., the M.B.E., and the B.E.M. are granted to the R.A.F. while they have also become eligible for the Distinguished Service Cross and the Distinguished Service Medal if serving with the Fleet, and also for the Military Cross and the Military Medal.
