Air Force Medal

Air Force Medal TERMS
The Air Force Medal is awarded to non-commissioned officers and men for an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty performed whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy.

BAR
A straight slip-on silver bar is awarded for a further act that would have warranted the medal. The year of the award is engraved on the back of the bar.

DESCRIPTION
An oval, silver medal, 1.375 inches wide and 1.625 inches long.

OBVERSE
King George V: A bareheaded coinage effigy, facing left, and the legend:
GEORGEIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:

King George VI: A bareheaded coinage effigy, facing left, and the legend:
GEORGEIVS VI D: G: BR: OMN: REX F. D: IND: IMP:

Queen Elizabeth II: A bareheaded effigy, facing right, with the legend:
ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FID: DEF:

REVERSE
Within a wreath of laurel, Hermes (facing right) is shown, mounted on a hawk in flight and bestowing a wreath. The date 1918 appears behind Hermes on the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II medals.

MOUNTING
A bomb is attached to the clasp and ribbon by two wings.

RIBBON
The ribbon is 1.25 inches wide, and consists of alternate red and white stripes (0.0625 [1/16]" wide) leaning 45 degrees to the left. A red stripe is to appear in the bottom left and upper right corners when viewed on the wearer's chest. Until 1919, the stripes were horizontal. 

NAMING
The medal is engraved with the service number, rank, initials, surname and service of the recipient. The engraving was very crude due to the convex nature of the edge of the medals. During WWI the medal was impressed.

DATES
The AFM was instituted on 03 June 1918.

ISSUED
There were 40 AFMs awarded to Canadians (no bars).


~Home~ ~Headquarters~  ~Squadrons~ ~Order of  Battle~  ~Airfields~  ~Aircraft~ ~Aircraft Photos~ ~Memorials~ ~ Crew Photos~ ~Combat Reports~  ~DailyOps~   ~StrikePhotos~~Mining Codes~ ~Betty'sBar~ ~Orders&Awards~ ~Noseart~ ~What'sNew~  ~Links~ ~SignGuestbook~ ~ViewGuestbook~ ~E-mail Me~