Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)

For other uses, see Air Force Cross (disambiguation).

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 decorations 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

The medal is a silver cross, 60 mm high and 54 mm 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.^[4]
The suspender is straight and decorated with laurel wreaths.^[4]
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.^[4]

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

Notable awards

George Bulman (1896–1963); awarded the AFC three times for services as a test pilot.^[5]
Geoffrey Dhenin (1918–2008); awarded the AFC twice for his role in the British nuclear weapons tests in Australia (1954 and 1959).^[6]
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Andrew Humphrey (1921–1977); awarded the AFC three times,^[7]
Willie Read (1885–1972); awarded the AFC three times.^[8]
H. P. Ruffell Smith (1911–1980); awarded the AFC three times.^[9]
Peter Thorne (1923–2014); awarded the AFC three times (1947, 1951, and 1956).^[10]

References

↑ "Defence FactSheet". Retrieved 9 October 2008.
↑ Medal Yearbook 2013. Honiton, Devon: Token. 2013. p. 87. ISBN 978-1-908-828-00-2.
1 2 "JSP 761 Honours and Awards in the Armed Forces" (PDF). p. 12A-1. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
1 2 3 4 5 "MOD – AFC". Retrieved 9 October 2008.
↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 32716. p. 4325. 3 June 1922.
↑ Dan, van der Vat (13 July 2011). "Air Marshal Sir Geoffrey Dhenin obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 40497. p. 3292. 3 June 1955. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 32563. p. 10719. 30 December 1921. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 41727. pp. 3732–3733. 5 June 1959. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
↑ Thorne, Michael (27 April 2014). "Peter Thorne obituary". The Gaurdian. Retrieved 19 May 2016.

External links

Page including text from the London Gazette dated 5 December 1919, establishing DFC, AFC, DFM and AFM

Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom

Current awards

Level 1	Victoria Cross (VC) George Cross (GC)

Level 2A	Distinguished Service Order (DSO) Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) Royal Red Cross Class I (RRC)

Level 2B	George Medal (GM) Queen's Police Medal, for Gallantry (QPM) Queen's Fire Service Medal, for Gallantry (QFSM)

Level 3A	Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) Military Cross (MC) Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) Air Force Cross (AFC) Royal Red Cross Class II (ARRC)

Level 3B	Constabulary Medal (Ireland) Sea Gallantry Medal (SGM) Queen's Gallantry Medal (QGM) Royal Victorian Medal (RVM) British Empire Medal (BEM) Queen's Police Medal, for Distinguished Service (QPM) Queen's Fire Service Medal, for Distinguished Service (QFSM) Queen's Ambulance Service Medal Queen's Volunteer Reserves Medal (QVRM) Queen's Medal for Chiefs Polar Medal Imperial Service Medal Overseas Territories Police Medal Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service

Level 4	Mentioned in Despatches Queen's Commendation for Bravery Queen's Commendation for Bravery in the Air Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service

Other awards	Badge of Honour

Obsolete awards

Level 1	Indian Order of Merit (First Class) (IOM) Albert Medal (1st class) (AM) Edward Medal (1st class) (EM) Empire Gallantry Medal (EGM)

Level 2A	Indian Order of Merit (Second Class) (IOM) Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM) Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying) (CGM)

Level 2B	Albert Medal (2nd class) (AM) Edward Medal (2nd class) (EM) Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Gold

Level 3A	Order of British India (First Class) (OBI) Order of British India (Second Class) (OBI) Indian Order of Merit (Third Class) (IOM) Royal West African Frontier Force Distinguished Conduct Medal King's African Rifles Distinguished Conduct Medal Indian Distinguished Service Medal (IDSM) Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) Military Medal (MM) Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) Air Force Medal (AFM) Burma Gallantry Medal (BGM)

Level 3B	Union of South Africa Queen's Medal for Bravery (Silver) Kaisar-i-Hind Medal (Gold, Silver, Bronze) Indian Police Medal, for Gallantry Ceylon Police Medal, for Gallantry Sierra Leone Police Medal, for Gallantry Sierra Leone Fire Brigades Medal, for Gallantry Colonial Police Medal, for Gallantry (CPM) Canada Medal (CM) Indian Police Medal, for Meritorious Service Ceylon Police Medal, for Merit Sierra Leone Police Medal, for Meritorious Service Sierra Leone Fire Brigades Medal, for Meritorious Service

Level 4	King's/Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct King's/Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air

See also: British campaign medals

Former decorations of Australia

Australian Honours Order of Precedence prior to 6 October 1992

Orders of chivalry

Most Honourable Order of the Bath	Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) • Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB/DCB) • Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)

Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George	Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) • Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG/DCMG) • Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)

Most Excellent Order of the British Empire	/ Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) • / Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE/DBE) • / Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) • / Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) • / Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Imperial Service Order	Companion of the Imperial Service Order (ISO)

Order of the Companions of Honour	Companion of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH)

Miscellaneous	Hereditary peer • Life peer • Baronet • Knight Bachelor

Military
gallantry/bravery
decorations

In the face of the enemy	Victoria Cross (VC) • Distinguished Service Order (DSO) • Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) • Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM) • Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying) (CGM) • Military Cross (MC) • Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) • Military Medal (MM) • Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) • Mentioned in dispatches

Not the face of the enemy	Air Force Cross (AFC) • Air Force Medal (AFM) • Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct

Distinguished
service
decorations

In the face of the enemy	Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) • Distinguished Service Medal (DSM)

Not the face of the enemy	Queen's Police Medal for Distinguished Service (QPM) • Queen's Fire Service Medal for Distinguished Service (QFSM)

Civil bravery
decorations

George Cross (GC) • Albert Medal, First Class (AM) • Albert Medal, First Class (Sea) (AM) • Albert Medal, Second Class (AM) • Albert Medal, Second Class (Sea) (AM) • George Medal (GM) • Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry (QPM) • Queen's Fire Service Medal for Gallantry (QFSM) • Sea Gallantry Medal (SGM) • Queen's Gallantry Medal (QGM) • Edward Medal (EM) • Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct

Nursing service

Member of the Royal Red Cross (RRC) • Associate of the Royal Red Cross (ARRC)

Meritorious service

/ British Empire Medal (BEM) • Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service

South African military decorations and medals

Sorted in order of wear per era or 1994 constituent force

Pre-Union until 6 April 1952	Victoria Cross Dekoratie voor Trouwe Dienst Distinguished Service Order Distinguished Service Cross Military Cross Distinguished Flying Cross Air Force Cross Distinguished Conduct Medal Distinguished Conduct Medal (Natal) Conspicuous Gallantry Medal Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying) Distinguished Service Medal Military Medal Distinguished Flying Medal Air Force Medal British Empire Medal (Military) South Africa Medal (1854) South Africa Medal (1880) Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal Queen's South Africa Medal Medalje voor de Anglo-Boere Oorlog Lint voor Verwonding King's South Africa Medal Natal Native Rebellion Medal 1914–15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal (South Africa) Mercantile Marine War Medal 1939–1945 Star Atlantic Star Arctic Star Air Crew Europe Star Africa Star Pacific Star Burma Star Italy Star France and Germany Star Defence Medal War Medal Africa Service Medal King George V Coronation Medal King George V Silver Jubilee Medal King George VI Coronation Medal Meritorious Service Medal (United Kingdom) Meritorious Service Medal (Cape of Good Hope) Meritorious Service Medal (Natal) Meritorious Service Medal (South Africa) Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Cape of Good Hope) Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Natal) Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Medal Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (South Africa) Volunteer Officers' Decoration for India and the Colonies Volunteer Long Service Medal for India and the Colonies Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal Efficiency Decoration (South Africa) Efficiency Medal (South Africa) Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal Air Efficiency Award King's Medal for Champion Shots in the Military Forces Union of South Africa Commemoration Medal South African Medal for War Services Sir Harry Smith's Medal for Gallantry (Unofficial) Johannesburg Vrijwilliger Corps Medal (Unofficial) Kimberley Star (Unofficial) Cape Copper Company Medal for the Defence of O'okiep (Unofficial)

1952–1994	Honoris Crux Gold Star of South Africa, Gold Star of South Africa, Silver Star of South Africa (1952) Louw Wepener Decoration Honoris Crux (1952) Honoris Crux Silver Van Riebeeck Decoration Honoris Crux (1975) Pro Virtute Decoration Southern Cross Decoration Pro Merito Decoration Van Riebeeck Medal Louw Wepener Medal Ad Astra Decoration Army Cross Air Force Cross Navy Cross Medical Service Cross Southern Cross Medal (1952) Pro Merito Medal (1967) Southern Cross Medal (1975) Pro Merito Medal (1975) Danie Theron Medal Jack Hindon Medal Military Merit Medal Korea Medal Pro Patria Medal Southern Africa Medal General Service Medal (South Africa) Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal Medal for Distinguished Conduct and Loyal Service Good Service Medal, Gold John Chard Decoration De Wet Decoration Cadet Corps Medal Good Service Medal, Silver Union Medal Permanent Force Good Service Medal John Chard Medal Good Service Medal, Bronze De Wet Medal Queen's Medal for Champion Shots in the Military Forces Commandant General's Medal SADF Champion Shot Medal National Cadet Bisley Grand Champion Medal

Transkei	Cross for Bravery Transkei Defence Force Medal Independence Medal (Transkei) Military Rule Medal Faithful Service Medal

Bophuthatswana	Order of the Leopard, Military Division, Commander Distinguished Gallantry Cross Defence Force Merit Decoration Distinguished Gallantry Medal Defence Force Merit Medal Marumo Medal, Class I Defence Force Commendation Medal Marumo Medal, Class II Nkwe Medal General Service Medal (Bophuthatswana) Independence Medal (Bophuthatswana) Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Gold Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Silver Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Bronze State President's Medal for Shooting

Venda	Gallantry Cross, Gold Gallantry Cross, Silver Distinguished Service Medal, Gold Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Venda Defence Force Medal General Service Medal (Venda) Independence Medal (Venda) Long Service Medal, Gold Long Service Medal, Silver Long Service Medal, Bronze

Ciskei	Sandile Decoration Sandile Medal Chief C.D.F. Commendation Medal Ciskei Defence Medal Independence Medal (Ciskei) Medal for Long Service, Bronze President's Medal for Shooting

Umkhonto we Sizwe	Star for Bravery in Gold Star for Bravery in Silver Conspicuous Leadership Star Decoration for Merit in Gold Merit Medal in Silver Merit Medal in Bronze Operational Medal for Southern Africa South Africa Service Medal Service Medal in Gold Service Medal in Silver Service Medal in Bronze

Azanian People's Liberation Army	Gold Star for Bravery Bravery Star in Silver Star for Conspicuous Leadership Gold Decoration for Merit Silver Medal for Merit Bronze Medal for Merit Operational Medal for Southern Africa South Africa Service Medal Gold Service Medal Silver Service Medal Bronze Service Medal

From 1994	Nkwe ya Gauta Nkwe ya Selefera iPhrothiya yeGolide Nkwe ya Boronse iPhrothiya yeSiliva iPhrothiya yeBhronzi Tshumelo Ikatelaho Unitas Medal Closure Commemoration Medal Medalje vir Troue Diens

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 8/10/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.