Medal:
A cross flory, in silver, the horizontal
and base bars terminating in bombs,
the upper bar in a rose.
Obverse:
This cross is surmounted by another,
composed of aeroplane propellers,
charged in the center with a roundel within a laurel leaf
from which two wings stretch across the horizontal bars.
At the centre of the roundel is the RAF
monogram surmounted by the Imperial Crown.
Reverse:
The reverse of the cross has at its centre
an encircled Royal Cypher above the year '1918'.
The year of the award was engraved on the back. At the bottom within a border four heraldic lions.
Bars:
The reverse of the cross has at its centre
an encircled Royal Cypher above the year '1918'.
The year of the award was engraved on the back.
Mounting:
A straight bar has two springs of laurel at the bottom which form a slot for a
linking ring to attach it to
the small ring at the top of the medal.
Ribbon:
1¼ inches wide, and consists of alternating violet and white stripes (0.125 inches wide) leaning to the left at 45 degrees
from the vertical.
Awarded to:
All ranks of the RN, RM, Army and RAF in recognition of exemplary
gallantry during active operations against the enemy in the air.
History:
Instituted in 1918, the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
was issued for acts of valour while flying in operations against the enemy.
To warrant officers and officers of the Royal Air Force. It was later made
available to equivalent ranks in the Royal Navy and Army
for acts of valour in
the air.
The equivalent award for the other ranks for acts of valour in the air on
operations against the enemy was
the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM),
instituted at the same time as the DFC and which was also later
made available to other ranks
of the Royal Navy and Army.
Following the 1993 review, the DFM was discontinued and the DFC became available
to all ranks of all services for exemplary gallantry
in the air in presence of
the enemy.
It is at a level below the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross and is at the
equivalent level to the Distinguished Service Cross
(for exemplary gallantry at sea) and the Military Cross (for exemplary gallantry on land).
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