IF YOU WANT MEDALS FRAMED - GO TO HOME
PAGE
This decoration, awarded to officers and warrent officers of the RAF, was instituted in June 1918 for gallantry on non-operational missions and for meritorious service on flying duties. Since the 1993 Review of gallantry awards it is now available to all ranks (the Air Force Medal having been discontinued) for non-operational gallantry in the air only (no longer for meritorious service).
A bar is awarded for an additional act which would have warranted the AFC. The straight slip-on silver bar has an eagle in the centre. The year of the award is engraved on the reverse.
DESCRIPTION
A silver cross (1.625" across), shaped as a thunderbolt in the form of a cross, the arm terminates with a bomb. The cross is surmounted by another cross composed of aeroplane propeller blades, with the ends of the four blades enscribed with the Royal Cypher. For the WWII DFCs the letters G (top), R (left), VI (bottom), and I (right) and for the Korea DFCs E (top), II (left), R (right), and the bottom blank. The top arm is ensigned by an Imperial Crown.
In the centre of the obverse is a roundel displaying Hermes, mounted on a hawk in flight, bestowing a wreath.
Within a central circle, the current Royal Cypher (GV, GVI, EIIR) above the date 1918. The year of award appears on the lower arm.
A small link at the top of the crown attaches to a slot in two sprigs of laurel firming the underside of a straight clasp.
The ribbon is 1.25 inches wide, and consists of alternating red and white stripes (0.125 wide) leaning to the left at 45 degrees from the vertical. The red colour is to appear in the bottom left and upper right corners when viewed on the wearer's chest. Until 1919, the stripes were horizontal.
The medals are issued unnamed.
The award was established on 03 June 1918, the birthday of King George V.
Total Issued - ?
WWI: 70 to Canadians in the RAF
WWII: 428 to RCAF 1 bar to RCAF (S/L John HONE, AFC*) 34 to Canadians
in the RAF (no bars)
Korea: 4 to RCAF (EIIR types)
Post War: 22 to RCAF (11 GVI and 11 EIIR) 2 to Canadians in the RAF
2 bars to Canadians in the RAF
METAL
Silver
SIZE
Height 60mm; Max Width 54mm
Next Image
Previous Image
Back to Home Page
Back to Orders/Decorations